According to news.com.au, sales of electronic books for the Kindle have overtaken hardcover book sales on Amazon’s website.

Over the past three months, Amazon has sold 143 Kindle books for every 100 hardcover books sold, while in the past month it has sold 180 Kindle books for every 100 hardcover books sold.

Amazon.com customers now purchase more Kindle books than hardcover books – astonishing when you consider that weve been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle books for 33 months, said Amazon founder and chief executive, Jeff Bezos.

Bezos said that the growth rate of sales for the Kindle had tripled since the company cut the ereaders price from $US259 ($298) to $US189 a month ago. This change was put into motion due to pressure from the iPad.