ABCs: Daily Star's rise slows, while election month lifts Daily Mail

The Daily Star was the only UK popular daily newspaper to manage a year-on-year sales rise in April, while the Daily Mail was the only title to show a month-on-month circulation boost. Richard Desmond's tabloid was up 0.05% year on year but down 0.48% compared to March, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures published today. The Daily Star, which reported a circulation of 823,025 copies, has been selling at 20p in most UK regions since November 2008. It recorded a small drop in sales month on month, after a succession of rises. The Daily Mail was down 3.86% year on year, but posted a month-on-month rise of 0.66% to 2,096,074 copies in April. Daily Mirror Headline circulation: 1,239,691 Month-on-month change: -0.59% Year-on-year change: -6.13% UK and Ireland paid for circulation: 1,202,086 (96.9% of total) Overseas: 37,606 Daily Star Headline circulation: 823,025 Monthly: -0.48% Yearly: +0.05% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 808,196 (98%) Overseas: 14,829 The Sun Headline circulation: 2,955,957 Monthly: -1.64% Yearly: -0.06% UK and Ireland paid for circulation: 2,919,618 (98.7%) Overseas: 36,339 Daily Express Headline circulation: 665,731 Monthly: -0.38% Yearly: -8.26% UK and Ireland paid for circulation: 636,187 (95.5%) Overseas: 29,544 Daily Mail Headline circulation: 2,096,074 Monthly: +0.66% Yearly: -3.86% UK and Ireland full rate circulation: 1,902,621 (90.7%) Overseas: 87,978 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 • 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".