Circulations Across Flagship Regionals Continue To Decline

Circulations across flagship regional newspapers are continuing to decline, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). In a year on year analysis for the six month period to January 2001 only one of the top ten titles increased its circulation base.

The Wolverhampton Express & Star is the top regional newspaper in the country followed by the Manchester Evening News, which saw a 1.6% drop in its circulation. The worst casualties over the period were the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, down 5.3% and the Belfast Telegraph, which fell 5.2%.

The Dublin-based Irish Times retained its position at number four in the table of top ten titles, adding 2.1% – almost 2,500 sales – to its circulation.

The Birmingham Evening Mail and the Sunday Mercury were suspended by the ABC last period following the discovery that they were reporting false circulation figures (see ABC Suspends Birmingham Titles).

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