New York - Sales of the new Harry Potter book have smashed the U.S. record, with 6.9 million of the weighty tomes flying off the shelves in the first 24 hours, according to the book's publisher.
On average the book racked up more than 280,000 sales every hour and generated more than 100 million dollars in revenue - more than the combined weekend take of the top two box office movies - "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Wedding Crashers".
The record of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince " smashed the previous high mark set by the fifth Harry Potter book, which sold only 5 million copies on its first day back in 2003. The book went on sale at one minute past midnight Saturday with thousands of book stores staying open late and holding Harry Potter parties to celebrate the release.
The huge buying wave prompted the publisher, Scholastic, to increase its initial print run for the book from 10.8 million copies to 13.5 million copies.
"This is a cause for celebration, not just for Scholastic, but for book lovers everywhere," said Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Children's Books.
© dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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