View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Magazines
February 12, 2009

Magazine ABCs: Women’s lifestyle circulation falls

By Owen Amos

Glamour continues to outperform its rival Cosmopolitan, both in sales and year-on-year performance, according to data released today by ABC.

Conde Nast’s “handbag-size” £2 title had a 547,607 circulation in the second half of 2008, down 0.4 per cent year on year.

But the National Magazine Company’s Cosmopolitan, at £3.20, slipped 2.1 per cent, to 450,836.

Elsewhere, most other women’s lifestyle magazines lost circulation, including Good Housekeeping – down 8.3 per cent to 425,407 – and Marie Claire, down 4.8 per cent to 314,259.

Yours fell 6.1 per cent to 307,064 and Candis was down 4.7 per cent to 285,971.

Grazia’s 227,156 circulation and Vogue on 220,386 both stayed level, year on year.

In other women’s sectors, the paid-for home interest market fell, with Ideal Home falling 7.9 per cent to 197,516, Country Living falling 3.1 per cent to 189,200, and House Beautiful eight per cent to 161,102.

Content from our partners
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition

In slimming, Weightwatchers Magazine slumped by 27.3 per cent to 175,009, while its rival Slimming World grew six per cent to 291,787.

Hair magazines also slumped, falling 14.3 per cent year on year. All five magazines in the sector fell, including market leader Hairstyles Only [down 1.4 per cent to 106,719] and Hair [down 13.8 per cent to 69,266].

Women’s interests: lifestyle / fashion (all percentages are year on year)

Glamour: 547,607 (-0.4%)
Cosmopolitan:450,836 (-2.1%)
Good Housekeeping: 425,407 (-8.3%)
Woman & Home: 353,160 (5.1%)
Look: 314,329 (2.9%)
Marie Claire: 314,259 (-4.8%)
Yours: 307,064 (-6.1%)
Candis: 285,971 (-4.7%)
Prima: 284,093 (-2.1%)
Company: 240,334 (-3.9%)
Grazia: 227,156 (0.0%)
Red: 225,380 (0.5%)
Vogue: 220,386 (0.0%)
Elle (UK): 195,114 (-4.1%)
Easy Living: 185,115 (-5.6%)
More: 181,260 (-9.4%)
Instyle UK: 180,987 (0.8%)
She: 165,008 (-6.3%)

Women’s interests: health / beauty

Healthy: 183,593 (-1.2%)
Zest: 97,765 (1.2%)
Top Sante Health & Beauty: 74,007 (-24.5%)
Health & Fitness: 30,556 (-2.5%)
Women’s Fitness: 24,116 (N/A)

Women’s interests: wedding and brides

Conde Nast Brides: 68,349 (0.1%)
You and Your Wedding: 58,046 (-3.3%)
Wedding (formerly Wedding & Home): 39,277 (3.3%)
Cosmopolitan Bride: 37,148 (16.1%)

Women’s interests: parenting

Emma’s Diary Pregnancy Guide: 412,524 (-0.4%)
Village Life: 400,062 (0.0%)
Your Toddler: 220,841 (11.0%)

Women’s interests: home interest

Ideal Home: 197,516 (-7.9%)
Country Living: 189,200 (-3.1%)
House Beautiful: 161,102 (-8.0%)
Homes & Gardens: 140,264 (0.1%)
House & Garden: 140,004 (-2.2%)
Wallpaper: 108,050 (-4.3%)
Your Home: 107,723 (-10.9%)

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network