The Hachette Book Group reported that its sales dropped four percent during the first half of 2012 in a financial earnings statement released August 30th. Meanwhile, Hachette’s digital sales increased 20 percent in the first half of 2012, as compared with the first half of 2011. The company reported that digital represents 27 percent of HBG’s net sales, which is up from 22 percent of net sales last year.

The company expects higher sales in the second half of the year, due to the typical growth in holiday season sales. In addition, the company expects J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy to help bolster sales.

Lagardère Publishing’s Hachette Livre reported net sales of around $1.1 billion during the first six months of 2012. Digital is growing within the division, representing 8.4 percent of total net sales for Hachette Livre, which is up from 6 percent for all of 2011. (Via Digital Book World).