MAGAZINE ABCs: Business and current affairs mags perform well

Private Eye remains the largest business and current affairs magazine in the UK with an average circulation of 207,680 copies during the six months to 30 June 2010, up 0.5% year on year but down 1.2% period on period.

Dennis Publishing’s The Week continued its steady run of circulation growth with an average circulation of 176,680, up 6.7% compared with the same period of 2010 and up 4.1% period on period.

James Tye, chief executive of Dennis Publishing, said The Week's success can be attributed to its consistency.  He said: "We just continue what we have been doing. It’s a great product, we market it well and we look after our readers."

The UK edition of global magazine The Economist also performed strongly in the first six months of 2010 with an average circulation 195,244, up 4.2% year on year and 3.2% period on period.

Rob Lynham, head of press trading at MEC, said: "It’s been a good period for the business and current affairs sector but that’s because it’s been very topical with the election and the economy. Also, these types of magazines have very loyal readerships."

The independent investment title MoneyWeek had an average circulation of 44,665, up 8.2% year on year and 4% period on period. Toby Bray, managing director of MoneyWeek said this is partly because consumers are less trustful of financial institutions.

Bray said: "The financial crisis has had a significant effect. Weekly magazines like ours have done well because there is so much stuff out there, people are overwhelmed by news. They see the attraction of a weekly round up."

Political weekly Spectator performed less strongly than some of the other magazines in the sector with an average circulation of 70,366, down 6.3% year on year but up 0.1% period on period.

The European edition of Newsweek had an average circulation of 189,922, up 0.4% year on year but down 1.2% period on period.

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk