Welcome back to Subject Spotlight, your go-to source for quarterly data-driven insights into the performance of particular subjects in the Canadian book market.

Previously, we looked at the sales and library circulation of Non-Fiction / Sports & Recreation books. In this instalment, we shine the spotlight on Non-Fiction / House & Home titles. How did these titles perform during the fourth quarter of 2023? We find out with the help of our SalesData and LibraryData services.

Buying Non-Fiction / House & Home

Compared to 2022, the overall sales of Non-Fiction / House & Home titles were up 31% over the entire fourth quarter. Looking at the graph below, from October to December 2023 sales of Non-Fiction / House & Home increased by 10%. Sales of Non-Fiction / House & Home titles increased by 259% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

These are the BISAC subcategories with the highest year-over-year increase in sales:

Non-Fiction / House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation — up 1,826%
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Maintenance & Repair — up 970%
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Cleaning, Caretaking & Organizing — up 109%

From October to December 2023, the most purchased Non-Fiction / House & Home subcategories were:

Non-Fiction / House & Home / Cleaning, Caretaking & Organizing — 37% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home sales
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Decorating & Furnishings — 31% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home sales
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation — 11% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home sales

Borrowing Non-Fiction / House & Home

From October to December 2023, library loans and renewals of Non-Fiction / House & Home titles were down 4% and 7% respectively from 2022.

In the entire fourth quarter of 2023 loans decreased by 27%. Renewals for Non-Fiction / House & Home titles from October to December 2023 were down by 24%. In the fourth quarter of 2022, loans increased by 53% from October to December and renewals were up by 62%.

Which Non-Fiction / House & Home BISAC subcategories were the most popular in Canadian public libraries? From October to December 2023, these subcategories saw the greatest increases in library circulation compared to 2022:

Non-Fiction / House & Home / Power Tools — loans up 25% and renewals up 50%
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Maintenance & Repair — loans up 34% and renewals up 16%
Non-Fiction / House & Home / House Plans — loans up 28% and renewals up 2%

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the most circulated Non-Fiction / House & Home subcategories were:

Non-Fiction / House & Home / Decorating & Furnishings — 31% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home loans and 25% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home renewals;
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Cleaning, Caretaking & Organizing — 25% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home loans and 28% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home renewals
Non-Fiction / House & Home / Do-It-Yourself — 10% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home loans and 12% of all Non-Fiction / House & Home renewals