National Newspaper Round-Up October 2001
The latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) show that the national newspaper market as a whole saw a month on month drop of 2.3% between September and October this year, as readers show signs of tiring with coverage of the global war against terrorism.
Many of the gains achieved by the broadsheets in September had vanished this month. Among the broadsheets the Observer and the Times saw the most significant losses in terms of percentage. The former dropped 6% month on month bringing total circulation for the title to 483,062, while the latter saw circulation dip 3.5% to 725,247.
Amongst other titles the Sunday Express saw the most significant fall in terms of percentage with circulation slipping 6.3% month on month to 849,254. The Sun experienced the greatest loss in terms of actual numbers with circulation falling 112,076 month on month, bringing total circulation for the title to 3,453,734.
Only three titles saw circulation rise in month on month analysis during October. The Independent On Sunday saw the greatest increase in terms of percentage climbing 5.2% month on month, taking total circulation to 260,288. The Sunday Sport saw the most significant month on month rise in actual numbers with circulation climbing 6,415 to 214,746.
| National Newspaper October 2001 ABC Monthly Comparisons | ||||
| Title | Sep 2001 | Oct 2001 | Actual Change | % Change |
| Daily Express | 976,417 | 960,698 | -15,719 | -1.6 |
| Daily Mail | 2,586,667 | 2,508,597 | -78,070 | -3.0 |
| Daily Record | 606,853 | 597,630 | -9,223 | -1.5 |
| Daily Star | 632,438 | 618,604 | -13,834 | -2.2 |
| Daily Telegraph | 1,048,001 | 1,024,135 | -23,866 | -2.3 |
| Financial Times | 481,818 | 473,901 | -7,917 | -1.6 |
| Guardian | 442,454 | 439,029 | -3,425 | -0.8 |
| Independent | 242,793 | 236,584 | -6,209 | -2.6 |
| Independent On Sunday | 247,496 | 260,288 | 12,792 | 5.2 |
| Mail On Sunday | 2,454,897 | 2,387,274 | -67,623 | -2.8 |
| Mirror | 2,271,236 | 2,213,301 | -57,935 | -2.6 |
| News Of The World | 4,161,617 | 4,105,999 | -55,618 | -1.3 |
| Observer | 514,117 | 483,062 | -31,055 | -6.0 |
| Racing Post | 75,495 | 77,378 | 1,883 | 2.5 |
| Sport First | 97,670 | 97,191 | -479 | -0.5 |
| Sun | 3,565,810 | 3,453,734 | -112,076 | -3.1 |
| Sunday Business | 60,591 | 60,284 | -307 | -0.5 |
| Sunday Express | 905,973 | 849,254 | -56,719 | -6.3 |
| Sunday Mirror | 1,922,066 | 1,878,518 | -43,548 | -2.3 |
| Sunday People | 1,412,463 | 1,393,075 | -19,388 | -1.4 |
| Sunday Sport | 208,331 | 214,746 | 6,415 | 3.1 |
| Sunday Telegraph | 849,406 | 831,172 | -18,234 | -2.1 |
| Sunday Times | 1,458,209 | 1,445,126 | -13,083 | -0.9 |
| Times | 751,441 | 725,247 | -26,194 | -3.5 |
| Total | 27,974,259 | 27,334,827 | -623,713 | -2.3 |
Quality Market
The Observer saw the greatest year on year increase in terms of percentage and actual numbers during October. Circulation at the title rose 8.5% or 36,860 bringing total circulation at the title to 472,711.
At the other end of the scale Sunday Business saw circulation fall 3.7% year on year to 57,184. The worst fall in actual numbers was seen at the Times, which shed 3,848 readers year on year during October, taking its total circulation to 717,657.
| Quality Market May 01 – Oct 01 ABC YoY Comparisons | ||||
| Title | May 00 – Oct 00 | May 01 – Oct 01 | Actual Change | % Change |
| Daily Telegraph | 1,026,634 | 1,023,510 | -3,124 | -0.3 |
| Financial Times | 461,733 | 477,476 | 15,743 | 3.4 |
| Guardian | 395,770 | 414,425 | 18,655 | 4.7 |
| Independent | 227,519 | 230,453 | 2,934 | 1.3 |
| Independent On Sunday | 247,061 | 245,250 | -1,811 | -0.7 |
| Observer | 435,851 | 472,711 | 36,860 | 8.5 |
| Sunday Business | 59,372 | 57,184 | -2,188 | -3.7 |
| Sunday Telegraph | 804,814 | 812,613 | 7,799 | 1.0 |
| Sunday Times | 1,356,010 | 1,383,683 | 27,673 | 2.0 |
| Times | 721,505 | 717,657 | -3,848 | -0.5 |
| Total | 5,736,269 | 5,834,962 | 98,693 | 1.7 |
Mid Market
Year on year analysis of the mid market reveals that the situation remains relatively unchanged with Express titles losing round and the Mail titles gaining ground. The Daily Express saw a 9.1% drop in circulation in year on year analysis, which is 95,872 in terms of actual numbers. The Daily Mail saw a year on year increase of 3.7% or 87,297.
| Mid Market May 01 – Oct 01 ABC YoY Comparisons | ||||
| Title | May 00 – Oct 00 | May01 – Oct 01 | Actual Change | % Change |
| Daily Express | 1,055,336 | 959,464 | -95,872 | -9.1 |
| Daily Mail | 2,389,489 | 2,477,416 | 87,927 | 3.7 |
| Mail On Sunday | 2,284,680 | 2,381,490 | 96,810 | 4.2 |
| Sunday Express | 971,183 | 882,670 | -88,513 | -9.1 |
| Total | 6,700,688 | 6,701,040 | 352 | 0.0 |
Popular Market
In the popular market Sport First saw the most significant increase in terms of percentage, with circulation rising 18.5% in year on year analysis. The Daily Star also saw a notable gain with circulation climbing 14.7%, which is 79,581 in terms of actual numbers. At the other end of the scale the Sunday People saw the greatest loss in terms of percentage with circulation dropping 7.5% in year on year analysis, bringing total circulation at the title to 1,398,090.
| Popular Market May 01 – Oct 01 ABC YoY Comparisons | ||||
| Title | May 00 – Oct 00 | May 01 – Oct 01 | Actual Change | % Change |
| Daily Record | 618,132 | 601,133 | -16,999 | -2.8 |
| Daily Star | 541,343 | 620,924 | 79,581 | 14.7 |
| Mirror | 2,278,542 | 2,220,996 | -57,546 | -2.5 |
| News Of The World | 4,027,585 | 4,042,714 | 15,129 | 0.4 |
| Racing Post | 78,843 | 79,369 | 526 | 0.7 |
| Sport First | 68,124 | 80,698 | 12,574 | 18.5 |
| Sun | 3,628,097 | 3,507,176 | -120,921 | -3.3 |
| Sunday Mirror | 1,932,761 | 1,876,557 | -56,204 | -2.9 |
| Sunday People | 1,510,772 | 1,398,090 | -112,682 | -7.5 |
| Sunday Sport | 199,168 | 204,464 | 5,296 | 2.7 |
| Total | 14,883,367 | 14,632,121 | -251,246 | -1.7 |
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