Examining The Economist’s circulation

Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette takes a look at the recent circulation results of The Economist.

Tobitt writes, “The Economist is the biggest ABC-audited news and current affairs title overall, with a global digital circulation of 970,074 (down 2%) and in print of 442,957 (down 10%). Its digital circulation does not include ‘all you can read’ sales as it is not part of Apple News+.

“The Economist’s UK print magazine circulation was 73,962 (down 11%).

“However a spokesperson for The Economist said its decline ‘is because ABC counts bundle subscriptions as two subscriptions. When bundles are cancelled, the decline outpaces new rising digital-only subscriptions, which are reported as only one subscription.’ Some 89% of new Economist subscriptions in the past year were digital, they added.

“According to The Economist’s 2024 annual report, it had 1.187 million total subscribers as of 30 September 2024 of which 66% were digital-only.

“The Economist’s Espresso app, which gives a smaller, curated selection of Economist journalism for a lower price, was up 28% globally to a circulation of 27,775. In the UK it was up 30% to 4,999.”

Read more here.