February ABCs: Daily Star Sunday doubles circulation in one year

The Daily Star Sunday doubled its circulation in February compared with the same month in 2011, according to figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC).

The Sunday tabloid increased year-on-year circulation by 98.14 per cent, seven months after the closure of the News of the World.

The Sunday Mirror was the Sunday popular paper to see the biggest actual increase in numbers, adding 494,116 from February 2011 to February 2012. The Daily Star Sunday added 296,721 to its circulation, the People 213,006 and the Sunday Mail added 12,357.

More than three million people bought the Sun on Sunday (3,213,613) on its 26 February launch date, as confirmed in the audited figures released today, with a total combined circulation for the Daily Star Sunday of 600,000 for the four Sundays in February.

The Daily Star Sunday saw a 7.09 per cent decrease month-on-month, following the launch of the first edition of the Sun on Sunday.

The Sunday Mirror and the People both increased their year-on-year circulation by just under 45 per cent (44.91 and 43.63 per cent respectively).

Circulation of the Mail on Sunday fell by 2.19 per cent year-on-year despite a campaign to target News of the World readers.

Only the Sunday Mail, Daily Record and i saw circulation increases from January to February with circulation falling across the board for all other audited titles.

All daily newspaper sales have seen a year-on-year fall, with only the Independent Group, owner of the Independent and the i, gaining (by 3.17 per cent).

The Independent saw the biggest month-on-month fall in circulation (a drop of 10.18 per cent) with its sister title meanwhile seeing circulation rise by 8.68 per cent.

The i also saw a 50 per cent increase year-on-year in daily circulation while the Independent newspaper fell 42.38 per cent.

The Guardian suffered a 17.75 per cent year-on-year fall with a 5.99 drop from January to February.

The Financial Times' circulation fell by 16.43 per cent year-on-year with a 1.02 per cent fall month-on-month.

Quality Sunday titles saw a fall in circulations across the board both year-on-year and month-on-month. The Independent on Sunday saw the largest annual drop and Scotland on Sunday suffered the greatest month-on-month fall (-17.42 per cent).

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