Just 13 fully paid-for weekly titles in England and Scotland bucked the trend to record increases in sales for the last half of 2010, the latest ABC figures have shown.
The circulation figures from July to December last year show the majority of papers had a decline, with a number of these in double figures.
And out of the 100pc paid-for weeklies, only 13 recorded increases in sales – 10 in England and three in Scotland, with no Welsh weeklies seeing their figures rise.
The best-performing of these was the Leek Post and Times, which saw its sales increase by 9pc year-on-year to 11,515, after it previously recorded a 12.5pc rise for the first six months of last year.
Other weekly titles which saw improvements in their circulations were the Pocklington Post at 5.9pc, the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and the Gainsborough Standard, both with 2pc rises, and the Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury, whose sales rose 1.3pc to 16,115.
Those fully paid-for titles with the largest decrease in circulation included the Basingstoke Midweek Gazette whose sales fell 22.1pc to 4,487 and the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide which fell 20.1pc to 2,202.
Other papers which saw large declines in sales included the Crosby Herald which was down 19pc to 6,939 and the Hebden Bridge Times, which saw its sales fall 18.2pc to 2,766.
The full list of 100pc paid-for weeklies which increased their sales is as follows:
England
Leek Post & Times 11,515 9.0pc
Pocklington Post 4,176 5.9pc
Ellesmere Port Pioneer 3,837 2.0pc
Gainsborough Standard 3,698 2.0pc
Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury 16,115 1.3pc
Whitchurch Herald 3,876 0.8pc
Leighton Buzzard Observer 5,996 0.6pc
Chorley Guardian 12,683 0.4pc
Cornishman 16,579 0.2pc
Packet Newspapers, Helston 2,314 0.2pc
Scotland
Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 3,715 3.9pc
Hawick News and Scottish Border Chronicle 5,317 1.9pc
Arran Banner 3,209 1.2pc
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The Wee County News also recorded a year-on-year increase in circulation in Scotland. With an increase of 3.1% to 6045. Would be nice to see this mentioned.
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As usual there is a queue of people ready to peddle doom and gloom, and yet not one congratulatory note to this bunch, and Martin, the ‘Wee County News’ (odd trio of pronouns). So bloody well done. I don’t know how you did it, but well done all the same.
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WELL DONE ALL at the Arra Banner keep up the good work xx
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The Worthing and Shoreham Herald series also recorded a 15.3 per cent increase from 17,467 to 20,145. Yippeee!!!
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