Apple is showing off its numbers again, and with good reason.

The iTunes Store has a stranglehold on the digital download music market, and it seems as though the video biz isn’t doing too shabby these days either. The company reported today that sales of music downloads from iTunes have surpassed 5 billion, and on top of that, people are renting or buying more than 50,000 movies per day.

Some pretty lofty figures there, indeed.

Here’s what makes them even more astounding—and even scarier for the competition. And better for the customer: Apple sent out a similar press release virtually a year ago—on July 31, 2007—and a comparison makes for some interesting notes.

In last July’s release, the company was touting its 3 billionth song purchase since the iTunes Store opened back in April 2003. So it took just over four years to gain 3 billion sales, and then a little less than a year for another 2 billion sales. Today’s release also notes a music catalog of more than 8 million songs, compared with a catalog of 5 million noted in the July 31, 2007, release.

Speaking of growing, that’s what the video business has been doing. Last July’s report points to a video catalog of 550 television shows and 500 movies. Between then and now, of course, Apple has begun rentals and added HD movies, as well, but the beefed-up catalog now stands at 20,000 TV episodes, over 2,000 flicks and 350 HD movies.

It’s not like we couldn’t see these numbers coming, but what basically amounts to a year-over-year comparison is pretty impressive to note anyhoo. Maybe that iPhone thing has a little impact too.

Arlen Schweiger - Editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen writes about home technology installations and product news and reviews for electronichouse.com and Electronic House magazine.