ABC figures for February showed a disappoint­ing month for weekend newspaper sales. The period saw every weekend title report a fall in circulation. The last time every weekend paper reported declining sales from the previous month was October 2022, but in that period iWeekend experi­enced a small year-on-year increase.

There has not been a month-long period in which every weekend title fell in circulation since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The news is a blow to publishers and retailers, as weekend newspaper sales had been resilient in the face of gen­erally declining circula­tion, with some Saturday titles reporting increased sales year on year in 2023.  A lack of significant headlines in February is thought to have contrib­uted to the drop in sales. In contrast, January saw the national spotlight on the Post Office Horizon scan­dal help boost month-on-month circulation for some titles.

Cancelled subscriptions

Andrew Johnson, of Dafarn Newydd Store near Llanwddyn, told Better Retailing: “I’ve had regulars cancel their subscriptions, saying their paper is too pricey and there’s nothing in it.”

Average annual decline remains at its lowest on Saturdays, followed by weekdays and then Sundays.  Some papers, includ­ing the Financial Times (FT) and the Daily Record, experienced increases in circulation on weekdays from January to February. The FT also saw the smallest decline in sales year on year on weekdays, an achievement that was claimed by iWeekend on Saturdays.

Read more news and advice about the newspaper and magazines category and click here for the latest ABC circulation figures