Newspaper sales fell in the first half of the year, continuing the trend shown in audited figures published at the end of 2008.
Figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show that sales of all the main daily newspapers in the Republic fell in the six months to June.
Average net circulation of The Irish Timeseach day was 114,488, a slight decline of 0.8 per cent on December's audited figure of 115,462. In the year since June 2008, sales of The Irish Timesfell by 3.2 per cent.
In the six months to June this year, average net circulation of the Irish Independentfell by 1.6 per cent to 152,204. Sales of the Irish Independentfell by 4.5 per cent in the year since last June.
The number of copies of The Irish Timesthat are 'actively purchased', which excludes bulk and discounted copies, was 92.9 per cent. The percentage of the Irish Independent's sales that are actively purchased was 87.3 per cent.
In Dublin sales of the Evening Heraldfell by 5 per cent in the six months to 71,187, while the decline in that newspaper's sales since last June was 10.4 per cent.
The Irish Examiner's audited circulation for the six months to June this year fell by 4.2 per cent to 50,346. In the year since June 2008, the Irish Examiner's sales declined by 7.1 per cent.
Figures for Sunday newspapers show an increase in sales for the Sunday Business Post, which added 5.1 per cent in the six months to June to bring its circulation to 57,783. The newspaper has increased its circulation by 3.2 per cent year on year.
The Sunday Independentincreased its sales marginally by 0.7 per cent in the six months to 272,174. In the year since last June, however, sales of the Sunday Independentfell by 3.8 per cent.
The Sunday Tribune's net circulation fell by 1.4 per cent to 65,727 in the six-month period to June. Overall, sales of the Sunday Tribuneremained flat when calculated over the year since June 2008.
Sales of the Sunday Worldfell by 2.7 per cent to 277,504 at the end of June, and its circulation was down by 5 per cent year on year.
In the North, sales of the Irish Newswere down 2.1 per cent to 47,819 in the six-month period.
In the year since June 2008, the newspaper's sales were down 2.3 per cent.
Circulation of the Newsletterremained static in the six months at 25,253, but was down by 3.6 per cent year on year.
The Belfast Telegraph's circulation was down 2.1 per cent to 69,457 at the end of June, while its sales dropped overall by 10.5 per cent in the year since June 2008.