Private Eye magazine remained the UK's top-selling current affairs title in the first half of 2011.
The fornightly satirical magazine, which celebrates its 50th birthday later this year, had a total circulation of 206,266 in the first half, a slight drop of 0.7 per cent year on year.
Although The Economist's UK edition had a higher total circulation, at 210,318 copies a week – only 76.5 per cent of its circulation was paid-for, compared with 98.9 per cent for Private Eye.
Global circulation of The Economist is said to be up 3 per cent to 1,486,838.
UK publisher Yvonne Ossman said: 'In these troubled times, more and more people are seeing the value in The Economists insightful and compelling editorial content, which offers much-needed perspective on world events."
Private Eye contributor and former editor Richard Ingrams had more reason to celebrate. The monthly title which he now edits, The Oldie, was the fastest growing UK current affairs magazine in the first half of this year with sales up 7.9 per cent to 40,386.
UK current affairs magazines ranked by average sale (first half 2011, source ABC)
Title; publisher; average sale; percentage change year on year
- The Economist – United Kingdom Edition ; The Economist Newspaper Ltd : 210,318 ; 7.7%
- Private Eye ; Pressdram Ltd : 206,266 ; -0.7%
- The Week ; Dennis Publishing Limited : 183,617 ; 3.9%
- The Economist – Asia Pacific Edition ; The Economist Newspaper Ltd : 146,016 ; 4.3%
- New Scientist (excluding Australasia & US/Canada ; Reed Business Information : 92,708 ; -8.3%
- Monocle ; Winkontent Ltd : 66,120 ; N/A
- Spectator ; Spectator (1828) Ltd : 62,852 ; -10.7%
- MoneyWeek ; Moneyweek Ltd : 47,366 ; 6.0%
- The Oldie ; Oldie Publications Ltd : 40,386 ; 7.9%
- Prospect ; Prospect Publishing Ltd : 31,985 ; 4.9%
- Investors Chronicle ; FT Business : 28,479 ; -2.4%
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
