ABC: Sun on Sunday averages 2.43m in first full month

The Sunday edition of the Sun reported an average weekly circulation of 2.43 million in its first full month on the newsstands – with rivals suffering significant month-on-month circulation declines as a result.

New figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation, covering the month of March, give the Sun an average circulation of 2,426,894 - down from the February launch figure of 3,213,613.

The 50p Sun on Sunday's launch hit the Daily Star Sunday, Sunday Mirror and People, which all suffered significant month-on-month circulation declines.

The People was down 33.84 per cent on February, falling from 701,246 copies to 463,936. The Sunday Express circulation fell 11.24 per cent month on month, at 503,985.

The Daily Star Sunday was down 19.3 per cent month on month at 483,477, but its circulation remains 64.73 per cent higher than last year, March 2011.

The Sunday Mirror fell 30.61 per cent from 1,594,293 to 1,106,259 million, but also remained up year-on-year by 4.06 per cent.

The rest of the Sunday newspapers saw year-on-year circulation declines in March, with the Independent on Sunday down 18.45 per cent to 124,921 - although it was up slightly month on month - and the Observer falling 15.18 per cent to 251,074.

The Guardian reported yesterday that plans are under way to launch a new Sunday tabloid newspaper to rival the Sun, led by former Sunday Express editor Sue Douglas and ex-ITV chief executive Rupert Howell.

In the daily newspaper market, many titles managed slight month-on-month rises in circulation compared with the short month of February, but the year-on-year picture remains one of decline, with the sole exception of the i, which is up 59.73 per cent to 273,793.

Total circulation of daily newspapers in the UK stood at 9,086,036 in March, down 7.35 per cent year on year.

Dailies
Daily Mirror – 1,083,938 (-6.23 per cent)
Daily Record – 294,442 (-5.83 per cent)
Daily Star – 617,305 (-11.71 per cent)
The Sun – 2,614,725 (-7.21 per cent)
Daily Express – 558,513 (-10.01 per cent)
Daily Mail – 1,952,524 (-4.28 per cent)
The Daily Telegraph – 576,378 (-7.99 per cent)
Financial Times – 319,381 (-16.32 per cent)
The Herald – 45,816 (-9.49 per cent)
The Guardian – 217,190 (-16.82%)
The i – 273,793 (+59.73%)
The Independent – 100,672 (-44.67 per cent)
The Scotsman – 37,257 (-10.88 per cent)
The Times – 394,102 (-11.66 per cent)
Racing Post – 58,629 (-4.80 per cent)

Sundays
Daily Star Sunday – 483,477 (+64.73 per cent)
The Sun (Sunday) – 2,426,894 (no year on year comparison)
Sunday Mail – 332,372 (-9.17 per cent)
Sunday Mirror – 1,106,259 (+4.06 per cent)
The People – 463,936 (-2.90 per cent)
Sunday Express – 503,985 (-5.48 per cent)
Sunday Post – 276,171 (-11.54 per cent)
The Mail on Sunday – 1,824,965 (-3.34 per cent)
Independent on Sunday – 124,921 (-18.45 per cent)
The Observer – 251,074 (-15.18 per cent)
Scotland on Sunday – 46,054 (-18.44 per cent)
Sunday Herald – 29,479 (-5.28 per cent)
The Sunday Telegraph – 451,731 (-6.27 per cent)
The Sunday Times – 928,260 (-10.03 per cent)

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).