Trib circulation grew over last six months, audit shows

Circulation of the Tribune-Review increased during the past six months, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Average Sunday circulation was 183,734 for the six months ended Sept. 30, according to the figures compiled from bureau’s Fas-Fax report, compared with an average 179,566 newspaper sales for the same period a year ago.

By contrast, the Post-Gazette’s average Sunday circulation declined to 405,692 as of Sept. 30 from an average 406,930 the year earlier.

The ABC figures for newspapers’ circulations are subject to audits by the suburban Chicago-based firm.

The gain of 4,168 in Sunday circulation of the Allegheny and Westmoreland editions of the Tribune-Review, came despite challenging economic conditions being experienced in the area, according to Edward H. Harrell, president of the Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

“The business climate in the region has continued to see-saw over the past year, but through it all, including a price increase to subscribers, the Tribune-Review has been able to grow,” Harrell said. “People are taking notice of our improvements to the newspaper and expanded coverage.”

The Tribune-Review was the only regional newspaper in this market to experience an increase in its Sunday circulation, said Carroll Quinn, vice president of circulation and production.

“The positive response by readers will aid us in continuing to improve our product and deliver on our promise to serve Pittsburgh and all of Southwestern Pennsylvania with better and more complete news coverage,” Quinn said.

The Tribune-Review also experienced a 2,300 gain in its six-day average circulation to 119,646 (Monday through Saturday,) according to the newspaper’s evaluation of ABC figures.

Daily circulation of the Post-Gazette slipped to 242,546 from 243,091, according to numbers shown in the Fas-Fax report.