Northcliffe Newspapers is continuing to perform well, according to the latest trading update from parent company Daily Mail and General Trust.

Circulation revenues for the group’s regional titles, which include the Derby Evening Telegraph, Leicester Mercury, Western Daily Press and South Wales Evening Post, were 3.8 per cent ahead for the five months to February 2005, compared to the same period last year, or 1.8 per cent excluding acquisitions and launches.

The trading update, ahead of the group’s half year end on April 3, also reports that Northcliffe’s advertising revenues for October to February were ahead, up 6.8 per cent on the comparable period last year.

On a like-for-like basis, UK advertising revenues have increased by 3.8 per cent. Property has continued to grow strongly, up 17 per cent, but the group says growth in recruitment has tailed off since January.

Circulation figures for July to December 2004 show a decline of 3.9 per cent on its titles, partly due to the further reduction in bulk sales to comply with revised ABC rules. The performance of its evening titles continues to be better than the regional newspaper industry average.