View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
October 16, 2020updated 30 Sep 2022 9:41am

September national press ABCs: Daily Mail print sale back over 1m for first time in six months

By Charlotte Tobitt

The Daily Mail’s circulation has topped 1m for the first time since Covid-19 hit the UK in March.

The latest ABC figures show most of the UK’s national newspapers saw marginal sales growth in September but continued year-on-year decline of between 10% and 20%.

The Daily Mail, which had dipped below 1m for the first time because of the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on footfall, returned to average sales of 1,007,181.

The Mail on Sunday and Observer saw the smallest year-on-year decline (both 10%).

The Financial Times once again recorded the biggest month-on-month growth (10%) and the largest year-on-year decline (-38%).

The ABC figures published below do not include the Sun, Times or Telegraph titles, which have chosen to keep their circulations private.

The Telegraph however does publish its subscriber figures monthly and said in September it reached 524,412 in total, of which 323,917 (62%) were digital and 200,495 (38%) were print.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Its net new subscriptions were 12,914, almost double the figure from August.

National newsbrand circulations in September 2020 (ABC) with monthly and yearly changes:

Publication ABC circulation for August 2020 Month-on-month % change Year-on-year % change Bulks
Daily Mail 1,007,181 1% -14%
Mail on Sunday 871,121 0% -10%
Metro (FREE) 650,279 29% -54%
Evening Standard (FREE) 512,016 0% -38%
Daily Mirror 394,250 1% -17%
Sunday Mirror 321,267 1% -17%
Daily Express 255,621 2% -16%
Daily Star 241,439 2% -19%
Sunday Express 223,759 1% -15%
i 154,288 2% -32% 8,216
The Observer 144,034 3% -10%
Daily Star Sunday 143,937 2% -19%
Sunday People 128,081 2% -12%
The Guardian 113,261 3% -13%
Financial Times 104,194 10% -38% 23,007
Daily Record 91,374 0% -17%
Sunday Mail 91,340 -1% -16%
Sunday Post 74,305 1% -21%

Topics in this article : ,

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

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network