View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Data
  2. Audience Data
February 8, 2013

UK national newspaper sales: Relatively strong performances from Sun and Mirror

By Press Gazette

The Sun and the Daily Mirror were the strongest performing newspapers month on month in January, compared with the always weak newspaper sales month of December.

The Mirror was up 2.3 per cent to 1,058,488 last month and also reported the second best year-on-year figures, down 5.7 per cent on January 2011.

The Sun was the best-performing month-on-month title up 5.8 per cent to 2,409,811, but saw a 12.4 per cent dip year on year  as it competes with cut-price sales from a year ago.

The Independent's cut-price stablemate i was once again saw the strongest year on year performer, up 20.8 per cent to 293,946 (including 66,000 free bulk copies) . Its sister-title The Independent reported the biggest drop, falling 34.4 per cent on January 2012 (largely do to a decision to switch its bulk sales to the i).

The Guardian said it was the only quality daily title that saw a month on month uplift for the third month in a row, with increases in November, December and January. It was up 0.1 per cent to 204,440. 

Average sales across the daily market were up 2 per cent month on month to 8,486,744 but down 9 per cent year on year.

In the Sunday market, (The Sun Sunday up 6.6 per cent month on month to 2,010,826) and the Sunday Mirror (up 1.4 per cent month on month to 1,039,150) were again two of the best performing papers, along with the Mail on Sunday (up 1.7 per cent on December to 1,715,707) and The Sunday Telegraph (up 1.6 per cent to 435,036). 

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

UK national newspaper sales for January 2013 (source ABC)

 

National dailies Ave sale Month/Month% Year/year%
Daily Mirror    1,058,488 2.30 -5.71
Daily Record       251,535 0.58 -8.87
Daily Star      535,957 -0.85 -14.11
The Sun    2,409,811 5.80 -12.41
Daily Express      529,648 0.10 -9.73
Daily Mail     1,863,151 1.01 -7.37
The Daily Telegraph       555,817 1.53 -6.77
Financial Times      275,375 -3.85 -13.88
The Guardian      204,440 0.11 -11.02
i      293,946 0.90 20.81
The Independent        76,802 -1.64 -34.40
The Scotsman        32,435 -0.09 -17.53
The Times      399,339 0.83 -1.43

 

National Sundays Ave sale Month/month% Year/year%
Daily Star Sunday      345,885 -4.12 -46.36
The Sun (Sunday)    2,010,826 6.58  
Sunday Mail       283,861 -0.41 -23.35
Sunday Mirror    1,039,150 1.43 -40.73
Sunday People       429,167 0.18 -44.32
Sunday Express       471,625 -0.36 -22.42
Sunday Post      242,555 -1.29 -19.79
The Mail on Sunday    1,715,707 1.68 -10.69
Independent on Sunday       114,308 -1.89 -8.13
The Observer       225,194 -2.44 -14.80
Scotland on Sunday        38,493 3.33 -24.12
The Sunday Telegraph      435,036 1.62 -5.79
The Sunday Times       885,612 0.93 -8.51

 

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