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January ABCs: Sindy slumps 25% with drops all round

By Owen Amos

Every Sunday newspaper lost year-on-year circulation in January, with the Independent on Sunday dropping almost 25 per cent.

The paper – relaunched in May 2007 – fell from 236,500 in January 2008 to 178,798 in January 2009, a 24.4 per cent fall.

It did, however, enjoy a 9.33 per cent month-on- month rise from December last year, traditionally a bad month for newspapers.

The News of the World remained by far the best-selling Sunday paper, selling 3,031,025 – but that was a 7.16 per cent fall year on year.

The Mail on Sunday, in second place, had a circulation of 2,189,432, down 6.05 per cent year on year.

The Sunday Mirror’s circulation was 1,244,007, down 8.99 per cent year on year, just ahead of The Sunday Times, comfortably the best selling quality, on 1,198,984 – 2.63 per cent down year on year.

Overall, popular Sundays were down 8.25 per cent, mid-market Sundays were down 7.08 per cent, and quality Sundays were down 5.20 per cent – a figure skewed by the Independent on Sunday’s fall.

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ABC national Sunday newspaper circulation for January 2009
All percentages are on a year-on-year basis

Daily Star Sunday – 359,533 (down 5.95%)
News of the World – 3,031,025 (down 7.16%)
Sunday Mirror – 1,244,007 (down 8.99%)
The People – 594,552 (down 11.18%)
Sunday Sport – 70,796 (down 18.91%)

Sunday Express – 646,971 (down 8.16%)
The Mail on Sunday – 2,189,432 (down 6.05%)

Independent on Sunday – 178,798 (down 24.40%)
The Observer – 427,867 (down 3.84%)
The Sunday Telegraph – 619,243 (down 2.27%)
The Sunday Times – 1,198,984 (down 2.63%)

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