The UK Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) figures for March revealed a positive month for newspapers, Media Guardian reported. The results showed a slowdown in the decline of national newspaper sales.

At the height of the decline in September and October of 2008, sales showed a 6.2 percent decline from a year earlier. This figure has dropped slightly every month and sits at a current decline of 5 percent.

Popular newspapers have made the biggest improvement in recent months, registering a 4.6 percent year-on-year decline. The daily popular newspapers are faring better than Sunday papers, with a 1.9 percent decline against 7.1 percent. The 20p Daily Star has been the clear success of the dailies, showing a 13.5 percent increase in circulation from the same time last year, according to Media Guardian.

Price plays a major factor in circulation levels. The Sun, sold for 30p, has pushed its readership base back up over three million, with just a 0.9 percent decline in year to year statistics and is once again the most read newspaper in the world. The 45p Daily mirror in contrast has had a 9.7 percent decline, Media Guardian reported.

The quality newspapers are showing similar levels of decline as the red tops, with a 4.5 percent drop. However, in this sector it is the dailies that are struggling the most with a 6 percent decline while Sunday editions have had only a 3 percent drop. The Sunday Times registered a 2.8 percent readership growth, according to ABC figures.

The midmarket has struggled the most of all newspaper sectors with a decline of 6.2 percent. This comes on the back of poor performances by the Mail papers, with the Daily Mail dropping 6.3 percent and the Sunday Mail 7.5 percent. The Mail had more than 27,000 daily and 16,000 Sunday copies cut from its airline distribution deal between February and March.

While circulation decline is slowing, the ABC lists only 87 percent of UK newspapers as sold at full cover price. While unchanged over the last year, a decade ago 93 percent of titles were sold at full price. This is due to localised price promotions, voucher schemes and reduced subscription rates, according to Media Guardian. The Sun sold 14 percent of its March issues at below full price, the Daily Star sold 40 percent at a reduced rate and the Telegraph had 41 percent of its daily paper sold on reduced subscriptions and 55 percent of its Sunday. The Independent has offered a 40 percent discount on its subscription.