ABCs: Daily Mail and Star titles are only popular daily risers

The Daily Mail and Daily Star were two of just three national newspapers to record year-on-year circulation increases last month, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. Richard Desmond's Star managed an 8.17% year-on-year rise to 784,958 copies in December. However, the company saw a 4.68% fall month-on-month, as the benefits of price cuts made in November 2008 fell away. The Mail recorded a 0.17% year-on-year increase last month, selling 2,113,134 copies, which represents a 1.65% month-on-month fall. "This isn't a one-off result, the Daily Mail has been performing strongly for a few months now," said Roland Agambar, chief marketing officer at Associated Newspapers. "In December the Daily Mail launched an X-factor Gamecard [which was] played by more than 600,000 readers, many of which were new to the paper". The Daily Star Sunday was the only other newspaper to record a year-on-year rise. News International's daily red top, the Sun, saw circulation fall by 1.25% year-on-year to 2,862,935 copies. This was a 3.23% month-on-month fall. It was tough going for the rest of the titles in the sector with the Daily Mirror recording a 9% year-on-year fall in circulation. Trinity Mirror's title sold 1,225,502 copies last month, a 2.74% month-on-month fall. Richard Desmond's Daily Express recorded a 6.94% year-on-year circulation fall to 677,750 copies. This was a 1.09% month-on-month fall. • 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".