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August 24, 2017updated 25 Aug 2017 5:26pm

Regional ABCs: Circulation growth for Scotsman and Irish News but many record double-digit decline

By Freddy Mayhew

The Scotsman and the Irish News were the only daily regional newspapers to grow their circulations in June, new six-monthly ABC figures show.

The Johnston Press-owned Scotsman, which marked its 200th anniversary this year, boosted its combined circulation to 21,214 – up 9 per cent on December (the last reported period) and 4.5 per cent year-on-year.

The figure includes 5,344 bulks – more than double the number issued in December and on the same period last year.

When bulks are removed, the title’s period-to-period growth drops to 8 per cent and its circulation falls to -5 per cent year-on-year.

Independent newspaper the Irish News had a circulation of 36,115 – up 2 per cent on the previous period and 0.5 per cent year-on-year.

There was double-figure year-on-year circulation decline for more than half of the 37 daily regional newspapers audited, including the Liverpool Echo, Yorkshire Post and Birmingham Mail.

Among those worst hit were the Manchester Evening News, down 19 per cent year-on-year to 42,285, and the Carlisle News & Star West, also down 19 per cent year-on-year to 2,256.

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The Express & Star (West Midlands) is still the UK’s best-selling regional daily at 51,722, down 13.4 per cent year-on-year.

The Derby Telegraph held circulation at just under 19,000 on the previous period.

Publications Total circulation (June 2017) % change period-on-period (Dec 2016) % change year-on-year Bulks
Express & Star (West Midlands) 51,722 -6.6 -13.4
Aberdeen – Press & Journal 49,475 -4.6 -8.8 385
Manchester Evening News 42,285 -10.1 -18.9
Liverpool Echo 41,773 -6 -13.8
Belfast Telegraph 39,314 -1.8 -6.2 2,226
Dundee – The Courier 37,142 -5.5 -9.9 193
Irish News – Morning 36,115 1.7 0.5 183
Norwich – Eastern Daily Press 31,514 -8.5 -13.9 91
The Herald 27,655 -4.2 -9
Leicester Mercury 25,535 -1.3 -12.9 531
Hull Daily Mail 25,437 -6 -11.3 41
The Sentinel 25,181 -5.5 -12.8 200
Newcastle Chronicle 25,056 -6.5 -12.1
Shropshire Star 24,942 -6.8 -13.4
Aberdeen – Evening Express 23,960 -6.9 -12.7 50
Leeds – Yorkshire Post 23,055 -3.5 -13 1,308
Darlington – The Northern Echo 22,622 -5.6 -10.5
Glasgow – Evening Times 22,397 -5.5 -12.8
The Scotsman 21,214 9.1 4.5 5,344
South Wales Evening Post 20,166 -4.1 -10.7
Teesside Gazette 19,699 -7 -13.3
Derby Telegraph 18,891 -0.1 -6 157
Birmingham Mail 18,029 -6.1 -14.5
Portsmouth – News & Sports Mail 17,940 -9.4 -13.8 133
Southend – Basildon – Canvey – Echo 17,932 -2.4 -5.6
Nottingham Post 17,265 -1.5 -7.2 76
The Post 17,148 -1.3 -9.6
Sheffield Star 15,858 -5.1 -7.6
Plymouth – The Herald 15,755 -3.6 -13.4
Southampton – Southern Daily Echo 15,620 -4.6 -10.8
Leeds – Yorkshire Evening Post 15,192 -5.7 -16
News Letter 14,900 -3.7 -9.1 125
Ipswich – East Anglian Daily Times 14,857 -6.3 -12.7
Cardiff – South Wales Echo 14,361 -5.1 -12.7
York – The Press 14,075 -3.6 -8.8
Coventry Telegraph 14,072 -7.2 -15.6
Dundee Evening & Weekend Telegraph 13,977 -6.6 -14.5 27
Bradford – Telegraph & Argus 13,264 -4.9 -10.5
Bournemouth – The Daily Echo 12,795 -5.8 -8.5
Cambridge News 12,012 -7.5 2,037
South Wales Argus 10,578 -2.1 -6.8 16
Lancashire Telegraph – Blackburn 10,532 -4.9 -10.8
The Argus Brighton 10,370 -6.4 -9.2 9
Dorset Echo 10,055 -1.4 -8.1
Oxford Mail 9,922 -2.6 -7.9 4
Lancashire Post 9,874 -8.2 -15.1
Colchester – Daily Gazette 9,525 -1.7 -3.5
Ipswich Star 9,513 -6.2 -14.4
The Bolton News 9,271 -3.5 -8.9
Swindon Advertiser 9,104 -4.8 -9.5 58
Norwich – Evening News 8,117 -11.5 -16.1
The Mail 7,026 -9.3 -16.9
Worcester News 6,892 -3.3 -7.1
Oldham Evening Chronicle 6,408 -5.9 -13.8
Carlisle – News and Star East 6,126 -8.6 -16.2
Paisley Daily Express 4,720 -1.7 -5.3
Carlisle – News and Star West 2,256 -15.3 -19.1

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