UK quality dailies see circulation declines

Posted by Leah McBride Mensching on February 12, 2010 at 4:42 PM

The Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Times and Independent all reported year-on-year circulation percentage declines in the double digits for January, Media Guardian reported today. The declines come as most have ended bulk distribution.

Last month, the Daily Telegraph's year-on-year circulation fell 11.76 percent (to 691,128), the first time it has dipped below 700,000 since the Audit Bureau of Circulations began its record in 1962. The Times saw a year-on-year circulation drop of 17.69 percent (to 508,250), the Guardian saw a year-on-year decline of 15.76 percent (to 302,285), and the Independent's year-on-year sales were down 13.78 percent (to 185,815).

The Financial Times, meanwhile, saw a circulation slide of 8.52 percent year-on-year of its global editions.

The Financial Times, the Independent and the Daily Mail are the only UK national dailies that continue to distribute in bulk, according to Press Gazette. The Guardian and The Observer stopped their bulk sales last summer.