National Newspaper ABC Round-Up July 2001

National Newspaper ABC Round-Up July 2001

Month on Month

The latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) reveals that the National Newspaper sector made a small year on year gain in total circulation during July. The increase of 0.8% represented an rise in total circulation of a fraction under 200,000.

The largest gains in terms of percentage increase in circulation was at the Mail on Sunday, which added 2.2% to its June circulation, equating to just over 50,000 in real terms. The Sun was another contributor to the sector’s overall increase, adding 66,000 or 1.9% to its circulation figure.

There was also heartening news for Northern & Shell’s recent purchase, the Daily Express, which, in a change from usual form, saw a month on month increase in circulation of 1.9%, bringing it to just under 960,000.

At the other end of the scale, the heaviest losses were felt at the Racing Post which dropped 8.3% of its circulation month on month, and also the Financial Times, which, in a break from its recent buoyancy, saw a decrease in circulation of 5.7%. The largest loss in actual numbers was at the Sunday Times, which dropped 72,400.

Quality Market

The largest increase in circulation in a year on year analysis of the Quality market was at the Observer. Here the addition of 37,000 to the paper’s circulation translated to a 8.9% increase year on year.

Fellow Sunday title, the Sunday Business fares less well in this analysis. The worst hit in terms of circulation within the sector, it sustained a year on year loss in circulation of 16.4% or just under 11,000 off its total.

Mid-Market

Figures for the mid-market reflected the pattern of recent months, with the Mail titles consolidating a strong position and the Express slipping backwards in circulation.

The Daily Express was the worst affected, despite having seen a month on month improvement (see above). It lost 100,000 from its total circulation in a year on year analysis, a fall of 9.6%. The Sunday Express dropped 6.1%.

The Daily Mail, meanwhile, managed a steady 3% increase, taking its circulation nearly 70,000 closer to the 2.5m mark.

Popular Market

The Popular market saw its total circulation slip 2.5% in a year on year analysis. The one notable exception in a difficult period was the Daily Star, another Northern & Shell acquisition, which saw a 13.5% increase, adding 70,000 to its total.

Weekday market leader the Sun remains fairly unchallenged in its position, but nevertheless slipped below the 3.5m mark year on year, losing 2.3%. Weekend market leader the News of the World told a similar story, slipping 1% to just under the 4m mark.

The worst casualty was the Sunday People. The reduction of its circulation by over 100,000 meant a year on year change of -7.8%.

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