Circulation figures have been released by ABC today (August 16) for magazines audited during the six-month period from January to June 2012.
PPA analysis of the figures illustrates sustained demand for the medium in print, with the Total Average Issue Net Circulation compared with the same period the previous year recorded at -2.1%.
Sectors to report year-on-year circulation increases for consecutive periods include Teenage Lifestyle (+55.0%), Children's Magazines: Pre-School (+11.9%), and Women's Slimming (+10.5%).
The News & Current Affairs: Domestic sector remained popular among readers with a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. There were also year-on-year increases in this reporting period for Home Interest: Gardening (+0.5%) and Leisure Interest: Camping/Walking/Climbing (+3.3%).
Barry McIlheney, CEO of the PPA, said: "This is yet another solid set of ABC figures that underline print's enduring position within today’s multi-platform consumer magazine brands. The millions of magazines distributed every day in the UK are hugely powerful in connecting consumers with their passions and interests, leading discussions and creating real influence.”
Within this ABC release, consumer magazines can separately report digital edition sales alongside a print figure on the same certificate. In the January to June 2012 release, a total of 60 titles opted to report digital edition sales figures compared with 16 in the same period a year ago.
The total number of audited paid-for digital editions for the 60 titles audited between January and June 2012 was recorded at 185,210. Compared with the previous period this represents an overall increase of 92%. When considered on an average copy sales per title basis, this represents a period-on-period increase of 226%.
The January to June 2012 ABC release also coincides with ABC’s first-ever Digital Publications Certificate, which enables publishers to give advertisers access to a verified audience circulation figure for digital publications that do not fall within the current ABC digital editions rules.
McIlheney added: "The introduction of the new Digital Publications Certificate coupled with the impressive growth in the number of consumers paying for digital editions shows how tablets are already becoming established as a key platform for magazine brands.”
Further information on the results of this ABC reporting period are available via our ABC page.