February 14, 2014

ABCs: Guardian and Observer both report year-on-year circulation increases despite cover price rise

The Guardian was the big winner in the first national newspaper ABCs of 2014 reporting a rare year-on-year rise in print circulation.

The newspaper averaged a sale of 207,958 during January 2014 with the Observer also reporting an increase in circulation to 225,474.

According to the Guardian, this 1.72 percent year-on-year increase in circulation comes despite a cover price hike of 20p.

David Pemsel, deputy chief executive of Guardian News and Media said: "It's fantastic to see our continued and steady growth in print sales – we have had a stellar January with the hugely successful launch of our new Saturday supplement 'Do Something', which saw the highest day of sales since the London 2012 Olympic Games, and has seen us increase our sales year on year – a remarkable achievement.

"We have been investing in our print offering and are supporting this with a range of marketing activities, including the third instalment of 'Own the Weekend', so it's very encouraging to see more and more people actively choosing to pick up a copy of the Guardian."

The i has also continued it's impressive growth with a circulation of 298,266 – a year-on-year incrase of 1.47 percent.

The Sun has also halted its circulation decline posting an average circulation of 2,213,649 with a further 100,000 digital subscribers reading the newspaper online or on a tablet.

David Dinsmore, Editor of The Sun, says: "*It is very encouraging to see a rise in print sales with The Sun outperforming the entire tabloid market in January. Last year The Sun crossed the 100,000 digital subscriber milestone in only four months. Our success in the digital arena, combined with a series of fantastic scoops gives us great confidence for the rest of 2014."

The Financial Times was the biggest loser on the release of today’s figures reporting a 14.95 percent drop in circulation year-on-year. The newspaper now has a circulation of 234,193.

Across on the Sunday tabloid market, the year-on-year circulation loss ranged from -7.50 percent at the Mail on Sunday to -12.66 at the Sunday Mirror.

In the broadsheet Sunday market only the Observer reported a circulation increase of just 0.12 with 225,474 with the Independent on Sunday dropping 11.39 percent to 101,284.