January 2017 ABCs: Sunday’s quality titles remain resilient

Daily Market

The majority of national newspapers managed to beat the January blues, according to the latest ABC results, with the Sun leading the charge with a 3.4% period-on-period increase in circulation.

This amounted to an extra 55,251 sales compared with December 2016.

The Daily Telegraph also performed well, up 2.7% PoP to add an extra 12,200 copies to its overall circulation, while the Daily Mail was up 1.3% PoP (+20,100).

While The Times reported a modest 1.1% PoP increase, the newspaper was up an impressive 11.7% year-on-year – the only title to post a yearly increase alongside Metro (+9.6% YoY).

The biggest decrease in circulation in January came from the Daily Record, down -3%, followed by the Guardian (-2.7%) and the Financial Times (-2.2%).

The Record also posted the biggest yearly decline (-11.9%).

Overall, the daily market was up 1.2% PoP and down by just -2.4% YoY – so not bad at all.

Sunday Market

The Sunday market remained fairly flat in January, with some titles seeing no change at all to their circulation.

However, all quality market newspapers – the Observer, Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph – managed to increase their circulations over the year – the only titles in the market to do so.

The Observer also saw sales increase the most period-on-period, up 2% to add an extra 3,600 copies. This was followed by Sunday Mirror, up 1.4% to add an extra 8,400.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mail posted the biggest decline in circulation (-2.5% PoP), followed by Mail on Sunday (-2%) and Sun on Sunday (-0.5%).

Overall the market was down just -0.4% PoP; however, much bigger yearly declines among mid market and popular titles meant the market was down -7.9% YoY.

London Free Press

The London Evening Standard performed best in the free market, up 4.6% period-on-period to add an extra 39,300 copies to its circulation.

Metro was up too, although by just 0.4% PoP (+4,000). However, the newspaper’s circulation increased by an impressive 17.1% over the year – an extra 130,719 copies.

City A.M., however, was down -0.7% PoP and -7.1% YoY.

Overall the free market was up 2.3% PoP and 6.4% YoY.