All newspapers record circulation declines in December
The latest figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show that every single national daily newspaper recorded circulation falls in December, both month-on-month and year-on-year.
The most dramatic fall was experienced by The Times who saw a circulation decline of 14.01% from December 2009’s figures, and a monthly decline of 3.83%. 2009’s figures include bulk sales however, which the newspaper removed from its ABC figures in 2010, so its circulation drop isn’t as severe as it would seem.
The Daily Telegraph likewise stopped including bulk sales in 2010 and saw a 10.23% drop year-on-year and 3.29% drop on November 2010, the Guardian’s circulation fell by 2.13% month-on-month and 11.89% year-on-year, while the Sun remained the most popular red-top selling an average 2,717,013 copies in December, a monthly circulation fall of 6.25% and an annual fall of 5.1%.
Meanwhile, Sunday titles fared almost as badly with the Daily Star Sunday the only national newspaper recording a month-on-month rise in circulation in December with its 1.6% growth. The red-top was down 4.64% year-on-year though.
The biggest monthly fall recorded amongst the Sundays was the News of the World which dropped 5.54% to 2,600,985. Despite this monthly fall and despite a year-on-year drop of 6.83% the News International title remains the UK’s most popular Sunday with a circulation of 2,600,985.
The Sunday Express saw its monthly circulation numbers drop 0.11% to 544,870, which is 7.74% down on December 2009, and the Mail on Sunday was down 1.69% compared to November and 2.43% compared to December 2009.
December is traditionally seen as a tough month for newspaper sales, but it is thought that 2010’s weather had a further detrimental effect on circulations.
DAILYS
Daily Telegraph
Headline circulation: 623,689
Month-on-month change: -3.29%
Year-on-year change: -10.23%
Overseas: 27,642
The Times
Headline circulation: 448,463
Month-on-month change: -3.83%
Year-on-year change: -14.01%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 424,992 (94.7% of total)
Overseas: 23,471
Financial Times
Headline circulation: 390,121
Month-on-month change: -2.64%
Year-on-year change: -2.67%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 76,753 (19.6% of total)
Overseas: 278,874
The Guardian
Headline circulation: 264,819
Month-on-month change: -2.13%
Year-on-year change: -11.89%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 248,696 (93.9% of total)
Overseas: 16,123
The Independent
Headline circulation: 175,002
Month-on-month change: -1.48%
Year-on-year change: - 6.39%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 87,440 (49.9% of total)
Overseas: 23,600
Daily Mail
Headline circulation: 2,030,968
Month-on-month change: –3.33%
Year-on-year change: -3.89%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 1,821,552 (89.6% of total)
Overseas: 91,383
Daily Express
Headline circulation: 623,389
Month-on-month change: -2.5%
Year-on-year change: -7.98%
Overseas: 26,479
The Sun
Headline circulation: 2,898,113
Month-on-month change: – 0.21%
Year-on-year change: –2.04%
Overseas: 27,946
Daily Mirror
Headline circulation: 1,133,440
Month-on-month change: -3.75%
Year-on-year change: -7.51%
Overseas: 34,784
Daily Star
Headline circulation: 713,602
Month-on-month change: -5.69%
Year-on-year change: -9.09%
Overseas: 10,105
SUNDAYS
The Sunday Times
Headline circulation: 1,008,163
Month-on-month change: -4.2%
Year-on-year change: -9.44%
Overseas: 39,326
The Sunday Telegraph
Headline circulation: 490,322
Month-on-month change: -2.22%
Year-on-year change: -6.62%
Overseas: 22,708
The Observer
Headline circulation: 301,457
Month-on-month change: -4.4%
Year-on-year change: -14.12%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 283,837 (94.1% of total)
Overseas: 17,621
The Independent on Sunday
Headline circulation: 150,437
Month-on-month change: -0.33%
Year-on-year change: -3.23%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 70,251 (46.6% of total)
Overseas: 27,565
Mail on Sunday
Headline circulation: 1,951,783
Month-on-month change: -1.69%
Year-on-year change: -2.43%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 1,749,110 (89.6% of total)
Overseas: 93,880
Sunday Express
Headline circulation: 544,870
Month-on-month change: -0.11%
Year-on-year change: -7.74%
UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 515,294 (94.5% of total)
Overseas: 29,576
News of the World
Headline circulation: 2,600,985
Month-on-month change: -5.54%%
Year-on-year change: -6.83%
Overseas: 34,816
Sunday Mirror
Headline circulation: 1,047,363
Month-on-month change: -2.12%
Year-on-year change: -5.92%
Overseas: 21,138
The People
Headline circulation: 486,669
Month-on-month change: -3.18%
Year-on-year change: -8.64%
Overseas: 15,240
Daily Star Sunday
Headline circulation: 336,868
Month-on-month change: 1.6%
Year-on-year change: -4.64%
Overseas: 7,543