Times is biggest year-on-year faller

Most daily national newspapers suffered a hangover in May from the general election in the same month last year, as circulation fell year on year compared with a strong month in May 2010. The Times and Guardian saw sales decline significantly in May compared with 12 months earlier, with Rupert Murdoch's daily posting the worst performance among the quality press. Its circulation fell 13.33% to 446,684. The Guardian's circulation fell 12.49% to 262,937. Richard Desmond's Daily Star was the biggest year-on-year faller, dropping 14.69% to 702,044. The Sun recorded the biggest month-on-month circulation rise of any paper, increasing sales by 2.29% to 2,846,905, although that figure still represents a 3.04% year-on-year fall. The circulation of the Daily Telegraph fell by 8.95% year on year to 635,967. The Independent recorded a 7.78% year-on-year fall to 179,371, while its spin-off title i, continued to close the gap on its parent title, recording a 3.67% increase in sales from the previous month to 167,067. When bulks are stripped out, it is comfortably outselling its sister paper – with the i on 159,297 and the Independent on 81,843. i had experienced the biggest month-on-month circulation decline among national daily titles in April, however, slumping 6% to 161,151. Total circulation of all newspapers rose slightly – by 0.1% – month on month in May, however, to 9,864,039, despite the fact that the royal wedding at the end of April boosted overall sales in the previous month. Daily Telegraph Headline circulation: 635,967 Month-on-month change: -0.56% Year-on-year change: -8.95% Overseas: 26,138 The Times Headline circulation: 446,684 Month-on-month change: -0.69% Year-on-year change: -13.33% Overseas: 23,083 UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 423,601 (94.8% of total) Financial Times Headline circulation: 362,685 Month-on-month change: -2.52% Year-on-year change: -9.3% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 75,045 (20.1% of total) Overseas: 254,596 The Guardian Headline circulation: 262,937 Month-on-month change: -0.37% Year-on-year change: -12.49% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 243,840 (92.7% of total) Overseas: 19,097 The Independent Headline circulation: 179,371 Month-on-month change: -0.76% Year-on-year change: -7.78% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 81,843 (45.6% of total) Overseas: 23,591 Daily Mail Headline circulation: 2,056,881 Month-on-month change: --2.07% Year-on-year change: -1.61% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 1,830,520 (88.9% of total) Overseas: 107,453 Daily Express Headline circulation: 631,558 Month-on-month change: -4.83% Year-on-year change: -8.95% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 597,534 (94.6% of total) Overseas: 34,024 The Sun Headline circulation: 2,846,905 Month-on-month change: -2.29% Year-on-year change: -3.04% Overseas: 65,111 Daily Mirror Headline circulation: 1,168,664 Month-on-month change: 0.35% Year-on-year change: -5.61% Overseas: 47,965 Daily Star Headline circulation: 702,044 Month-on-month change: 1.43% Year-on-year change: -14.69% Overseas: 19,362 Daily Record Headline circulation: 311,540 Month-on-month change: -0.33 Year-on-year change: -5.20% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 295,713 (94.9% of total) Overseas: 13,982 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 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". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook .