ABCs: Quality dailies come down from election high

The quality daily press was hit by a drop in circulation last month as a sales rise prompted by several days of general election-related political drama in May was reversed. Total sales for the five titles in the sector fell by 2.77% to 2,147,732 in June following the formation of a coalition government as normal service was resumed at Westminster. The Times is hovering perilously close to the 500,000 mark, at 503,642, following a 2.28% month-on-month decline and a 14.77% annual fall. The Daily Telegraph saw the biggest year-on-year daily sales fall, from 835,419 in June 2009 to 681,322 last month, a fall of 18.45%. Sales of the title lifted this time last year on the back of its award-winning coverage of the MPs' expenses' scandal. But the Telegraph's circulation also fell 2.45% month on month. The Independent's circulation was down 3.79% month on month and 6.62% year on year at 187,135. In June the Guardian saw its sales fall by 14,252, or 4.7%, month on month to 286,200. It sold 49,814 fewer copies in May than it did in the same month in 2009, a 14.82% drop. The Guardian abandoned bulk sales in July last year and it has also reduced the number of copies distributed overseas since January. That has reduced the overall circulation figures by 12,000 compared with June 2009. Year-on-year comparisons for the Times and Daily Telegraph have also been adversely affected by the ditching of bulk sales. The Daily Telegraph Headline circulation: 681,322 Month-on-month change: -2.45% Year-on-year change: -18.45% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 638,769 (93.7% of total) Overseas: 42,553 The Times Headline circulation: 503,642 Month-on-month change: -2.28% Year-on-year change: -14.77% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 465,799 (92.4% of total) Overseas: 37,843 The Financial Times Headline circulation: 391,864 Month-on-month change: -2% Year-on-year change: -4.88% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 81,244 (20.7% of total) Overseas: 277,754 The Guardian Headline circulation: 286,220 Month-on-month change: -4.74% Year-on-year change: -14,82% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 265,504 (92.7% of total) Overseas: 20,716 The Independent Headline circulation: 187,135 Month-on-month change: -3.79% Year-on-year change: -6.62% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: 100,966 (53.9% of total) Overseas: 23,722 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".