ABC National Newspaper Round-Up: April 2006

Daily Newspaper Market

Britain’s daily newspaper market continued to see circulation decline in April, suffering a dip of 3.11% year on year overall.

Both the mid market and popular sectors saw universal decline, while the quality market saw just two titles increase their sales.

The Guardian added 1.9% to its sales year on year, pushing circulation to 374,580, while the Financial Times claimed the largest percentage increase, at 8.3% to reach 462,235.

Elsewhere, the Daily Express suffered the largest percentage decline, as a 10.1% dip lost the paper almost 94,000 sales in real terms. The Daily Star was also hit hard, losing 9.5% in the same period to 770,241.

Quality Daily Titles

Just two titles saw circulation growth in the quality sector during April, as the Guardian increased sales by 1.9% year on year to 374,580, while the Financial Times grew by 8.3% to hit 462,235.

Elsewhere, market leader the Daily Telegraph suffered a 1.4% downturn year on year, but retained its dominance of the sector with a circulation of 900,078.

Compact titles the Independent and Times also suffered a dip in sales, slipping by 3.5% and 4.5% respectively. The downturns give the Times a circulation total of 654,813, while the Independent rests at 252,931.

Mid Market Daily Titles

The mid market saw poor results in March, with neither the Daily Mail or Daily Express increasing sales.

The Daily Express saw the latest percentage decline of any daily paper, losing 10.1% year on year to shed 93,976 readers in real terms. The paper’s circulation now stands at 832,462.

The Daily Mail saw a less severe downturn meanwhile, shedding 0.4% year on year to sit just short of 2.4 million.

Popular Daily Titles

The popular market saw declines in circulation across the board during April, with the largest downturn recorded by the Daily Star.

The title shed 9.5% of its sales year on year, losing 80,695 copies in real terms to push its total to 770,241.

Also struggling against circulation decline was the Daily Record, which lost 4.2% in the same period to command sales of 446,628.

Meanwhile, The Sun retains its position as the nation’s best-selling daily paper, despite a 3.2% downturn pushing its total to just under 3.2 million.

Rival title, the Daily Mirror, also saw its sales slip, losing 3.8% year on year to see its circulation rest just under 1.7 million.

Sunday Newspaper Market

The Sunday newspaper market aped its weekday counterpart in circulation decline during April, losing 3.1% year on year as a whole.

All titles in both the mid market and popular sectors exhibited a downturn in sales, with only the quality market’s Independent on Sunday and Observer managing an increase year on year.

The Daily Star Sunday recorded the largest downturn of any Sunday title, shedding a substantial 16.4% to lose 75,287 copies in real terms. The title now commands a circulation of 385,109.

Quality Sunday Titles

The Independent on Sunday performed well in April, adding 22.9% to its circulation year on year to total 258,368 in the face of widespread decline amongst the rest of the Sunday newspaper sectors.

The Observer also added to its total, increasing by 11.1% to echo the success of its weekday counterpart, the Guardian. The title now commands sales of 503,582, up 50,385 in real terms year on year.

All other titles in the Sunday quality sector failed to increase their circulations, with the Sunday Times losing the most sales, at 1.9% year on year, while the Sunday Telegraph lost 0.5% in the same period.

The Sunday Times remains the market leader however, with a total circulation of 1.3 million compared to the Sunday Telegraph’s 682,585.

Mid Market Sunday Titles

The Sunday mid market saw declines across the board during April, with the Sunday Express leading the way, losing 13.5% of its total year on year. The title’s circulation now stands at 789,363, down by almost 123,000 in real terms.

Elsewhere, the Mail on Sunday lost 0.3% from its circulation year on year, which now stands at just over 2.4 million.

Popular Sunday Titles

The popular market delivered disappointing results across the board in April, with all four titles in the Sunday market recording a downturn in circulation.

The Daily Star Sunday was the worst hit, losing 16.4% year on year to total 385,109. Meanwhile, a 10.4% dip in sales for The People left the paper with a total circulation of 843,077.

News International’s News of the World retained its position as market leader, despite a loss of 2.4% year on year, with a circulation of just under 3.6 million.

The Sunday Mirror completed the whitewash of decline, as a 4.7% slide in sales left the paper with a a total of 1.5 million.

Six Monthly Year On Year Analysis

ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk