Tabloids buck newspaper trend with circulation increase

The national tabloid market was the only category to enjoy a year-on-year growth in an altogether lacklustre performance for newspapers according in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. The Sun was the only daily to record an increase in the six months to June.

The overall tabloid category managed a 0.02% year-on-year increase to 5.8 million, while the mid-market category, which consists of the Daily Express and the Daily Mail, fell 1.85% to 3 million.

Similarly, the qualities, including The Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, The Guardian and The Independent, fell 2.82% to 2.66 million year on year.

The news was worse for the Sunday papers, which saw a 4.24% drop to 12 million. The biggest year-on-year declines continues to be for Trinity Mirror’s The People and Sunday Express which were down by over 11%, and Sport Media Group’s Sunday Sport, which was down 14.19%.

The monthly figures are more positive for Express Newspaper’s Daily Star Sunday, which rose 3.4% to 378,954 and the Sunday Express which rose 2.9% to 677,053. News International’s News of the World, also rose 1% to 3.1m. The Independent on Sunday reported a 4.3% month on month increase to 209,561 despite a 6.8% decline year on year.

In the overall newspaper sector, market leader News International’s The Sun continues to perform well year on year, rising 1.54% to 3.1m, despite a 1.9% month-on-month fall.

Associated Newspapers’ Evening Standard also enjoyed a 7.27% increase to 290,390 year on year, though fell 1.65% month on month.