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August 28, 2013

ABC figures show only one local weekly growing print sales in first half of 2013

By Dominic Ponsford

The UK's local weekly newspapers lost sales at an average rate of 6.6 per cent in the first half of 2013, according to figures released today by ABC.

Changes to the way local papers are audited meant that only 56 titles released figures this time around, compared with 373 titles six months ago. Most regional weeklies are now opting to have their sales figures audited by ABC just once a year.

The average rate of decline for local weeklies is better than the local daily titles, which lost sales at an average rate of 10.5 per cent in the first half of this year.

But like the dailies, nearly every title was down on print sales. Many have not been helped by sharp increases in cover price.

The best performing fully paid-for weekly title in the first half of this year was the Gravesend & Dartford Mesenger, which grew sales by 0.9 per cent year on year to 5,147.

The only other title to grow circulation year on year was the Maidenhead Advertiser, up 9.4 per cent to 19,515. But this was due to an increase in free circulation. Paid-for sales dropped from 17,061 in the same period a year ago to 14,364 in first half of this year.

Title Avg sale %sold Price Change
Sunday Life 45,768 98.7% £1.40 -6.1%
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Sunday Sun 37,588 100.0% £1.10 -19.4%
Scotland on Sunday 37,407 100.0% £2.10  
Kent Messenger 34,068 100.0% £1.10 -6.9%
Sunday Mercury 31,982 93.0% £1.10 -13.6%
Isle of Wight County Press 30,912 100.0% £0.80 -5.6%
Rotherham & South Yorkshire Advertiser 24,897 100.0% £0.60 -4.4%
Sunday Herald 24,881 100.0% £1.30  
Cumberland News 23,801 100.0% £1.00 -6.9%
Wales on Sunday 23,416 100.0% £1.15 -12.4%
Maidenhead Advertiser 19,515 73.6% £0.70 9.4%
New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times 19,184 100.0% £0.40  
Newbury Weekly News 16,448 100.0% £0.75 -9.2%
Cumberland & Westmorland Herald 15,722 99.9% £0.75 -6.4%
Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury 14,348 97.3% £0.80 -8.2%
Kentish Express 14,039 100.0% £1.10 -10.6%
County Times and Express 13,906 100.0% £0.75 -6.8%
The Watford Observer 13,884 94.7% £0.90 -6.6%
Great Yarmouth Mercury 13,821 100.0% £0.70 -6.0%
Hexham Courant 13,677 100.0% £0.85 -5.8%
West Cumberland Times & Star 13,335 100.0% £0.80 -7.3%
Lowestoft Journal 13,291 100.0% £0.70 -7.1%
Whitehaven News 12,260 100.0% £0.80 -7.5%
Fermanagh Herald 12,144 100.0% £1.10 -5.0%
Ulster Herald 11,315 100.0% £1.10 -1.6%
Welwyn Hatfield Times 11,279 87.6% £0.70 -13.8%
Kentish Gazette 10,437 100.0% £1.10 -7.9%
East Kent Mercury 10,096 100.0% £0.95 -5.1%
Newry Reporter 9,842 100.0% £1.10 -9.4%
Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer 7,991 100.0% £0.65 -5.6%
Exmouth Journal 7,730 93.2% £0.60 -2.1%
West Highland Free Press 7,572 100.0% £0.75 -4.2%
Coalville Times 7,374 100.0% £0.48 -5.6%
Medway Messenger (Monday) 6,914 100.0% £0.65 -8.0%
Bridgnorth Journal 6,587 100.0% £0.50 -7.7%
South Shropshire Journal 6,563 100.0% £0.50 -7.1%
Sheerness Times Guardian 6,423 100.0% £0.80 -6.0%
Newport Advertiser 6,353 100.0% £0.50 -8.3%
Sidmouth Herald 6,214 96.7% £0.60 -2.3%
Tyrone Herald 6,153 100.0% £0.80 -4.2%
North Norfolk News 6,149 100.0% £0.65 -7.1%
Denbighshire Free Press 6,123 100.0% £0.60 -6.9%
Ely Standard 6,054 51.4% £0.55 -2.7%
Dereham & Fakenham Times 5,984 100.0% £0.65 -5.4%
Sittingbourne News Extra 5,486 100.0% £0.80 -1.8%
Derry News – Monday 5,446 100.0% £1.00 -5.9%
Derry News – Thursday 5,399 100.0% £1.00 -8.4%
Beccles & Bungay Journal 5,368 100.0% £0.65 -5.0%
Gravesend & Dartford Messenger 5,147 100.0% £0.85 0.9%
Strabane Chronicle 4,779 100.0% £0.90 -5.7%
County Derry Post 4,448 100.0% £1.00 -0.7%
Banbridge Chronicle 3,884 100.0% £1.10 -7.6%
Whitchurch Herald 3,493 100.0% £0.65 -4.1%
Uttoxeter Post & Times 2,534 100.0% £0.55 -14.5%
Faversham News 2,325 100.0% £1.10 -10.7%
Herne Bay Gazette 2,245 100.0% £1.10 -14.3%

 

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