ABCs: Daily Star Sunday is only month-on-month riser

The Daily Star Sunday was the only national newspaper to record a month-on-month lift in circulation in December, with a 1.6% rise. Express Newspapers' Sunday red-top had an average circulation of 336,898 last month, down 4.64% year on year, the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures released today show. The News of the World recorded the biggest monthly fall of the Sunday tabloid titles, dropping 5.54% to 2,600,985. News International's red-top remains the UK's most popular national newspaper despite a year-on-year drop of 6.83%. Elsewhere in the Sunday tabloids, the Sunday Mirror dropped 2.12% of its month-on-month circulation in December, to 1,047,363 – a 5.92% year-on-year fall. The Sunday Mirror's sister title, the People, fell 3.18% month on month to 486,669, a yearly slide of 8.64%. Among the mid-market titles, the Sunday Express recorded a marginal monthly dip, 0.11% to 544,870, which is a 7.74% fall compared to December 2009. Mid-market rival the Mail on Sunday was down 1.69% compared to November, at 1,951,783 – a 2.43% year-on-year drop. After 12 months of double digital year-on-year dips affected by the removal of bulks, both the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph saw their rate of circulation decline slow in December. Both titles began cutting back on bulks towards the end of 2009 , and stopped distributing them completely in January last year. The Sunday Telegraph fell below 500,000 average weekly sales last month, dropping 2.22% compared to November to 490,322 – a 6.62% year-on-year drop. The Sunday Times stayed just above the 1m mark, with a 4.2% monthly fall to 1,008,163, a 9.44% decline on December 2009. The Observer slipped down towards the 300,000 weekly sales mark, with a 4.4% month-on-month decline to 301,457. The Guardian's Sunday sister title was the biggest year-on-year faller among all the national titles in December, down 14.12%. Year-on-year decline was partly down to changes in overseas distribution, with 14,000 fewer copies of the Observer sent overseas compared with this time last year. The Independent on Sunday also recorded a marginal monthly decline, dropping 0.33% to 150,437, a 3.25% slide year on year. The Sunday Times Headline circulation: 1,008,163 Month-on-month change: -4.2% Year-on-year change: -9.44% Overseas: 39,326 The Sunday Telegraph Headline circulation: 490,322 Month-on-month change: -2.22% Year-on-year change: -6.62% Overseas: 22,708 The Observer Headline circulation: 301,457 Month-on-month change: -4.4% Year-on-year change: -14.12% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 283,837 (94.1% of total) Overseas: 17,621 The Independent on Sunday Headline circulation: 150,437 Month-on-month change: -0.33% Year-on-year change: -3.23% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 70,251 (46.6% of total) Overseas: 27,565 Mail on Sunday Headline circulation: 1,951,783 Month-on-month change: -1.69% Year-on-year change: -2.43% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 1,749,110 (89.6% of total) Overseas: 93,880 Sunday Express Headline circulation: 544,870 Month-on-month change: -0.11% Year-on-year change: -7.74% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 515,294 (94.5% of total) Overseas: 29,576 News of the World Headline circulation: 2,600,985 Month-on-month change: -5.54%% Year-on-year change: -6.83% Overseas: 34,816 Sunday Mirror Headline circulation: 1,047,363 Month-on-month change: -2.12% Year-on-year change: -5.92% Overseas: 21,138 The People Headline circulation: 486,669 Month-on-month change: -3.18% Year-on-year change: -8.64% Overseas: 15,240 Daily Star Sunday Headline circulation: 336,868 Month-on-month change: 1.6% Year-on-year change: -4.64% Overseas: 7,543 Headline circulation includes lesser rate sales, subscriptions, bulks – copies sold to airlines, rail companies, hotels and gyms for a nominal fee and given free to the public – and distribution in Ireland and overseas. UK and Ireland paid-for circulation excludes bulks and overseas distribution; where this figure is not given, bulks and overseas distribution account for less than 5% of total circulation • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".