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ABCs: Independent switches free distribution to i

By Press Gazette

Independent Print Ltd has transferred a significant volume of bulk copies from The Independent to its cut-price sister title i, resulting in a 26.8 per cent drop in circulation.

Circulation of The Independent was down from 182,412 in October 2010 to 133,449 in October 2011, of which 56,214 were bulks (compared with 75,795 last month).

Circulation of i was up 14.7 per cent on last month thanks largely to 34,323 bulk copies (compared with 8,242 in September).

The Guardian saw the second-biggest year on year drop in circulation of any national title in October, falling 16.6 per cent to 230,541, but the paper no longer includes international sales in its monthly audit.

A spokesperson said this means that in for October there were 18,000 fewer Guardian and 19,000 fewer Observer sales compared to October 2010

Every other national daily newspaper was down year on year. Apart from the i all the dailies were also down month on month.

Among the Sundays, the Daily Star Sunday was the best performing title with a 97.9 per cent rise in year on year sales.

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The paper continues to benefit from the closure of the News of the World in July, as does The People (up 58.1 per cent year on year to 804,126) and the Sunday Mirror (up up 56.5 to 1,773,727).

The Mail on Sunday was the only Sunday paper to record an increase in month-on-month sales, which were up 1 per cent to 2,000,251.

Full UK national press circulation breakdown for October (year on year change) (source ABC)

(name of title, average sale, percentage change year on year)

Dailies

Daily Mirror: 1,118,120 ; -7.98

Daily Record: 293,091 ; -8.62

Daily Star: 658,690 ; -16.99

The Sun: 2,715,473 ; -6.50

Daily Express: 614,534 ; -4.38

Daily Mail: 1,998,363 ; -6.15

The Daily Telegraph: 603,901 ; -7.80

Financial Times: 345,077 ; -14.14

The Herald: 45,813 ; -13.33

The Guardian: 230,541 ; -16.60

i : 211,467 ;

The Independent: 133,449 ; -26.84

The Scotsman: 38,787 ; -9.49

The Times: 417,197 ; -12.92

Racing Post: 49,518 ; -7.66

Sundays

Daily Star Sunday: 688,058 ; 97.92

Sunday Mail: 392,775 ; 1.97

Sunday Mirror: 1,773,627 ; 56.51

The People: 804,126 ; 58.14

Sunday Express: 679,265 ; 23.24

Sunday Post: 316,842 ; -1.18

The Mail on Sunday: 2,000,251 ; -1.82

Independent on Sunday: 130,942 ; -15.17

The Observer: 268,355 ; -14.39

Scotland on Sunday: 48,569 ; -9.43

Sunday Herald: 28,990 ; -31.45

The Sunday Telegraph: 471,894 ; -6.81

The Sunday Times: 967,990 ; -8.54

Full UK national press circulation breakdown for October (month on month change)

(name of title, average sale, percentage change month on month)

Dailies

Daily Mirror: 1,118,120 ; -2.24

Daily Record: 293,091 ; -1.65

Daily Star: 658,690 ; -3.31

The Sun: 2,715,473 ; -0.36

Daily Express: 614,534 ; -0.50

Daily Mail: 1,998,363 ; -0.52

The Daily Telegraph: 603,901 ; -0.54

Financial Times: 345,077 ; 0.14

The Herald 45,813 ; -2.10

The Guardian: 230,541 ; -0.87

i : 211,467 ; 14.68

The Independent: 133,449 ; -24.60

The Scotsman: 38,787 ; -1.63

The Times: 417,197 ; -2.88

Racing Post: 49,518 ; -1.21

Sundays

Daily Star Sunday: 688,058 ; -2.17

Sunday Mail: 392,775 ; -1.83

Sunday Mirror: 1,773,627 ; -3.90

The People: 804,126 ; -4.18

Sunday Express: 679,265 ; -0.13

Sunday Post: 316,842 ; -2.38

The Mail on Sunday: 2,000,251 ; 1.04

Independent on Sunday: 130,942 ; -15.15

The Observer: 268,355 ; -1.71

Scotland on Sunday: 48,569 ; -1.11

Sunday Herald: 28,990 ; -0.58

The Sunday Telegraph: 471,894 ; -2.03

The Sunday Times: 967,990 ; -1.65

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

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