Circulation decine is slowing

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. newspaper circulation declines slowed in the six months through September after the New York Times, USA Today and Los Angeles Times lost fewer readers at their paid print dailies.

Daily average circulation for 635 newspapers fell 5 percent compared with a year earlier, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations data released today. It dropped 8.7 percent in the period through March.

News Corp.’s Wall Street Journal, including online subscribers, increased circulation by 1.8 percent. New York Times Co.’s namesake newspaper cut the print readership decline to 5.5 percent from 8.5 percent in the prior six-month period.

Gannett Co.’s USA Today lost 3.7 percent of its daily circulation, compared with a 14 percent, and Tribune Co.’s Los Angeles Times pared the fall to 8.7 percent from 15 percent. Rounding out the top 5 newspapers by average circulation, Washington Post Co.’s namesake daily slowed the drop to 6.4 percent from 13 percent.

--Editors: Peter Elstrom, Ville Heiskanen