ABCs show increase for Guardian and FT

by Deborah Bonello, Campaign 16-Jun-06

The Guardian was the only quality daily to enjoy month-on-month and year-on-year circulation rises in the May newspaper Audit Bureau of Circulations figures.

The title enjoyed a 2.32 per cent year-on-year circulation hike to
381,188.

Bono's guest editing of The Independent caused a circulation peak
mid-month, but wasn't enough to combat a 2.21 per cent year-on-year

decline for the month. The Times, meanwhile, fell by 3.09 per cent while

The Daily Telegraph dropped 1.69 per cent.

The Financial Times saw a 4.61 per cent year-on-year circulation rise,
the most significant for a quality daily. The increase added almost
20,000 readers to last year's figure.

All of the tabloids suffered year-on-year drops. The Daily Mirror saw an
8.23 per cent fall, with The Sun faring slightly better with a dip of
just 2.52 per cent.

Of the mid-market titles, the Daily Mail was up 1.3 per cent while its
competitor, the Daily Express, saw a year-on-year dip which took its
circulation to 845,234.

Among the Sunday titles, the Sunday Sport saw the biggest year-on-year
decline with a drop of almost 22 per cent, and the Sunday Express
suffered an 11.9 per cent fall. The Independent on Sunday, however,
enjoyed a 10 per cent rise, followed closely by The Observer, which was
up 4.33 per cent.