ABCs: print decline endures for fourth month but Metro enjoys time ahead of The Sun
Yet again, the circulation of all the major UK newspapers with a cover price shrank, However, The Metro - which is distributed for free - is talking up the fact it continues to have a greater reach than The Sun. That makes it the widest reaching title in the UK.
Newspaper circulation continues to decline
Figures from auditor ABC found that the Metro distributed a daily average of 1.47 million copies in June, down just 0.38% for the year.
Grant Woodthorpe, executive director of investment at Mail Metro Media,said: “June was another great performance for Metro and we are delighted to maintain our position as the largest distributed newspaper in the country. Extending the lead ahead of our nearest competitor is testament to the great product we put out every weekday morning to engage our young professional audience.”
Year-on-year, The Sun was down 7.61% to 1.45m, somewhat cushioned by bulk sales. The Daily Mail (second most circulated) suffered a 12.19% YOY drop to 1.26m. It outlined that excluding bulks it was only down by 8.03%.
A few months on from its tabloid redesign, The Guardian continues to decline (13.16% for year and 1.92% for the month). Similarly, The Evening Standard's free distribution is down 2.31% for the year to 886k.
Across the board there was a decline in circulations. This is the fourth consecutive month of print decline in every leading title.
Below, The Drum shows the year-on-year decline in the circulation of daily newspaper titles with a cover price. Sunday editions have been left off the chart for brevity.
