Readers flock to The Sun and FT despite price hikes

by John Reynolds, Media Week 07-Mar-08, 15:45

London - The Sun and The Financial Times were the only national dailies to post year-on-year circulation increases, according to the February ABCs, despite both hiking cover prices this year

The News International-owned red-top, which has persevered with its cut price 20p edition in London and the South-East, recorded a circulation of 3,077,060 in February, an increase of 0.15 per cent from February 2007. However, The Sun's February circulation was down by 4.13 per cent from January.

By comparison, circulation for competing red-top titles the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star, both fell by more than 4 per cent over the year.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times, which has increased its cover price from £1 to £1.50 over recent months, continued to perform well and increased its circulation to 448,342 copies in Feburary, up by 0.69 per cent year on year.