Most regional newspapers in Northern Ireland saw their sales fall in the first half of this year, according to the latest ABC figures.

Only the River Media Newspapers Group, whose titles are fully paid-for, saw an increase in circulation – rising 20.6pc year-on-year to an average of 19,492 sales for the period January to June 2013.

The ABC figures released today show all the daily and Sunday titles had a fall in circulation, including the Belfast Telegraph, whose sales fell 8.6pc to 49,228, while its sister Sunday Life title saw a decrease of 6.1pc.

The Irish News saw its sales fall by just 3pc to 40,842, while the News Letter had a decrease in circulation of 6.5pc to 20,755.

Of the paid-for weeklies, those who saw the smallest falls in circulation were the County Derry Post, with a fall of 0.7pc, and the Ulster Herald, whose circulation decreased 1.6pc.

The ABC figures for the mainland regional press will be published next Wednesday.

Here is the full list of figures for Northern Ireland, with the circulation figure followed by the year-on-year increase or decrease.

Daily Newspapers

Belfast Telegraph  49,228  -8.6pc

Irish News – Morning  40,842  -3.0pc

Sunday Life  45,768  -6.1pc

Ulster – News Letter  20,755  -6.5pc
  
Weekly titles

Banbridge Chronicle  3,884  -7.6pc

Community Telegraph East Belfast  33,760  -0.9pc

Community Telegraph Group  105,207  -1.1pc

Community Telegraph North Belfast  24,431  -0.9pc

Community Telegraph North Down & Ards  24,866  -0.7pc

Community Telegraph South Belfast  22,150  -2.2pc

County Derry Post  4,448  -0.7pc

Derry News – Monday  5,446  -5.9pc

Derry News – Thursday  5,399  -8.4pc

Fermanagh Herald  12,144  -5.0pc

Newry Reporter  9,842  -9.4pc

The North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing  News Group  47,890  -4.6pc

River Media Newspapers Group  19,492  20.6pc

Strabane Chronicle  4,779  -5.7pc

Tyrone Herald  6,153  -4.2pc

Ulster Herald  11,315  -1.6pc