ABCs: World Cup lift for red-tops

The Daily Mirror and the Sun saw a small boost in month-on-month circulation in June thanks to the World Cup, while the Daily Express and Daily Mail held steady, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures published today. News International's red-top was the best performer in the daily popular sector, up 1.5% month on month, although on a year-on-year basis its circulation fell 1.6%. Richard Desmond's Daily Star, the sector's strongest performer in recent times, was down 1.57% month on month and 6.12% year on year. The Sun Headline circulation: 2,979,999 Month-on-month change: +1.5% Year-on-year change: -1.6% Daily Mail Headline circulation: 2,092,643 Month-on-month change: +0.1% Year-on-year change: -4.93% UK and Ireland paid-for circulation: (88.8% of total) Overseas: 120,044 Daily Mirror Headline circulation: 1,248,919 Month-on-month change: +0.87% Year-on-year change: -6.12% Daily Star Headline circulation: 809,992 Month-on-month change: -1.57% Year-on-year change: -6.95% Daily Express Headline circulation: 664,293 Month-on-month change: +0.1% Year-on-year change: -8.94% 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; where this figure is not given, bulks and overseas distribution account for less than 5% of total circulation • 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".