City AM circulation down in summer doldrums

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 08-Aug-08, 12:30

LONDON - City AM's circulation dropped 13.59% in July, while the Evening Standard slipped further below 300,000, according to the latest ABC figures.

City AM, the free business daily, fell from a record 101,885 copies in June to 88,042 in July, which was a drop of 5.7% from the same month last year.

Its six-month average was down by a minimal 0.3% year on year to 97,545 copies.

City AM said it reduces its distribution levels during the summer months of July and August, as many workers leave the office to go on holidays. The paper intends to return to normal distribution levels in September.

The Evening Standard's circulation remained below 300,000, dropping by a further 0.99% month on month to 292,455 copies. Its six-month average is up year on year by 7.19% to 290,191.

The fall occurred despite the paper once again boosting its bulk distribution - from 123,635 in June to 126,790 in July.

The Standard ran a front-page apology to Prince Philip in today's early edition for falsely reporting on Wednesday that he was suffering from prostate cancer. The paper's front page read: "The Evening Standard apologises to the Duke of Edinburgh."

Freesheet thelondonpaper remained fairly static, dropping by a minimal 0.15% month on month to 500,068. However its six-month average is up 0.94% year on year to 500,592 copies.

Its rival, London Lite, rose 0.20% month on month to 401,453 copies in July. The paper's six-month average remains positive and is up by 0.52% year on year to 400,254 copies.

Metro's London circulation fell by a marginal 0.16% to 747,576 copies, while its six-month average was up by 36.47% year on year to 746,617.

Finally, Metro's UK circulation dropped by 0.09% to 1,359,261. Its six-month average is up 22.18% year on year to 1,358,979 copies.