Times' sales rise during positive May for dailies

The Times' circulation climbed to 626,401 copies but its six-month average was down 3.19% year on year to 620,989 copies.

Its quality counterparts had a mixed performance. The Financial Times' circulation rose 0.52% month on month to 450,558 copies during May. Its six-month average is up by 0.07% year on year to 449,295 copies.

The Guardian also rose during the month by 0.8% to 353,822 copies, but its six-month average remains down by 3.1% year on year to 357,701 copies.

However, it fared better than the Daily Telegraph, which suffered a circulation drop of 0.99% to 862,966 copies. Its six-month average is down 2.92% year on year to 872,673 copies.

The Independent has continued to slide, dropping 1.19% to 240,503 copies during May. Its six-month average is down 3.39% year on year to 243,435 copies.

In the mid-market, The Daily Mail's circulation dropped by 1.39% month on month to 2,292,173. Its six-month average is down 0.72% year on year to 2,307,349 copies.

Circulation at its rival The Daily Express increased by 1.79% during May to 740,219 copies. However, its six-month average is down by 3.49% to 738,186 copies.

The Sun, which is now selling for 25p in London and the South East, saw its sales increase by 0.55% month on month to 3,149,267. Its six-month average is up by 1.18% to 3,103,264 copies -- making it the only national morning daily, other than the FT, to report a year on year circulation rise.

Its red-top rival the Daily Mirror was up 0.39% during May to 1,483,830 copies. However, its six-month average is down 4.25% year on year to 1,491,262 copies.

The Daily Star fell 0.57% month on month to 726,097 copies. Its six-month average is also down by 5.86% to 725,320 copies.

The Daily Sport, which warned of continuing declining sales in a trading update today, fell 10.54% in May to 85,043 copies. The paper relaunched on April 21. It did not register a six-month average circulation.