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The Economist loses circulation in Asia despite sharp growth of digital editions

The EconomistBrisk growth in The Economist’s digital subscriber base in Asia could not prevent the magazine’s circulation from dropping overall in the region, with print reader numbers falling by 7.8 per cent over the six months from July to December 2015.

The news and current affairs title’s digital circulation jumped from 39,399 in the first half of 2015 to 45,422 by the end of the year – the second biggest rise globally after gains made in Europe.

But print numbers dwindled from 113,874 from January to June 2015, to 104,947 from July to December 2015, a steeper rate of decline than the last audit, when print circulation was down six per cent.

Overall, The Economist’s combined print and digital circulation in Asia in the latest ABC audit was 150,369, dropping from 153,273 over the previous six month period.

July to December 2015

July to December 2015

January to June 2015

January to June 2015

By contrast, the previous set of Audit Bureau of Circulation figures saw a fractional overall increase in Asia of 0.7 per cent.

Globally, the publication’s combined circulation growth remains steady, with a small increase worldwide of 133 new readers, thanks to gains in North America and its home market, the UK.

The title added 20,857 more readers of its digital editions, but lost 20,724 readers of its print edition.

The UK was the only market where The Economist’s print circulation grew over the last six months.

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