A small decline in circulation is balanced by strong growth in its Espresso app.
The latest circulation results from The Economist reveal a decline in both digital and print subscriptions. The publication reported a global digital circulation of 970,074, which marks a 2% decrease, alongside a print circulation that fell by 10% to 442,957.
A spokesperson for The Economist said that the decline in subscriptions is partially attributed to the way the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) accounts for bundle subscriptions. Specifically, the ABC counts these bundles as two subscriptions, so when bundles are cancelled, the overall decline in recorded subscriptions can outpace new digital-only sign-ups, which are counted as one subscription. This nuance suggests that the reported figures may not fully capture the growth of digital readership.
In terms of subscriber growth, The Economist noted that 89% of new subscriptions in the past year have been for digital content. As of 30 September 2024, The Economist reported a total of 1.187 million subscribers, with 66% of those being digital-only.
In addition to traditional digital subscriptions, The Economist’s Espresso app, which offers a curated selection of content at a lower price point, experienced considerable growth. The app saw a 28% global increase in circulation, bringing the total to 27,775, while the UK figures rose even higher, up 30% to 4,999. The app is now being offered to students worldwide for free in an attempt to lure them into full-price subscriptions later.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/the-economist-is-attracting-younger-readers-with-cut-price-espresso-digital-edition/ – This article discusses The Economist’s efforts to attract younger readers through its Espresso app, highlighting the growth in Espresso subscriptions and the shift towards digital content.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist – This Wikipedia page provides background information on The Economist, including its history, global reach, and the transition from print to digital media.
- https://www.economistgroup.com/results – The Economist Group’s results page details the increase in digital subscriptions and the total number of subscribers, reflecting the trend towards digital consumption.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as providing the initial analysis of The Economist’s circulation results, though it does not directly corroborate specific figures without access to the article.
- https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ – Press Gazette often reports on media trends and circulation figures, providing context for The Economist’s place within the broader publishing industry.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references recent circulation figures as of September 2024, indicating the information is current and not recycled from older sources.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Talking Biz News, which may not be as widely recognized as major news outlets like the BBC or Financial Times, but it references a reputable source, Press Gazette.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about The Economist’s circulation trends align with broader industry shifts towards digital media consumption, making them plausible.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current and based on plausible trends in the media industry. It references reputable secondary sources and aligns with known shifts towards digital media consumption.
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