April 9, 2009

March ABCs: Daily Star continues to shine bright

The 20p Daily Star continues to thrive during the recession, with sales up 13.52 per cent year on year, and 5.01 per cent month on month.

In March, the Star sold an average of 819,880 copies each day. That was up from 722,207 in March last year, and up from 780,742 in February this year.

It was the only national newspaper to increase sales year on year.

Of its rivals, The Sun was 0.91 per cent down year on year to 3,096,086.

However, it was up 3.85 per cent month on month, bringing it back above the magic three million mark.

The Daily Mirror was 9.68 per cent down year on year to 1,340,131. It too, though, was up month on month, by 1.02 per cent.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail fell 6.32 per cent year on year, and 2.53 per cent month on month, to 2,162,462.

The Independent, currently going through a £10m cost-cutting, saw its sales plummet. Its average circulation was 205,308, down 16.74 per cent year on year, and 0.32 per cent month on month.

ABC national daily newspaper circulation for March 2009

All percentage figures are on a year-on-year basis

The Sun – 3,068,035 (down 0.91 per cent)

Daily Mirror – 1,340,131 (down 9.68 per cent)

Daily Star – 819,880 (up 13.52 per cent)

Daily Mail – 2,162,462 (down 6.32 per cent)

Daily Express – 725,841 (down 0.81 per cent)

The Daily Telegraph – 824,883 (down 5.63 per cent)

The Times – 600,210 (down 3.53 per cent)

Financial Times – 431,900 (down 5.06 per cent)

The Guardian – 340,952 (down 4.80 per cent)

The Independent – 205,308 (down 16.74 per cent)