Single copy sales down 12.4% in U.S. and Canada in 2016; revenue down 6.9%

Single copy sales of magazines in Canada and the U.S.were 12.4% lower in 2016, compared with the previous year. A story from Folio:, based on data released by auditing firm MagNet the unit decline represented a 6.9% decline in newsstand revenue.  

Compared to the 15.8 percent year-over-year drop in units sold and 13 percent revenue dip from 2014 to 2015, the 2016 numbers indicate that the downswing continues a gradual leveling-off — especially in revenues, whose declines have been partially abated by rising cover prices — but the pace of the downturn remains alarming; since 2011, unit sales have plummeted 52.4 percent, and revenues have fallen 43.2 percent. 

Overall, 373.2 million magazines were sold at retail in 2016, corresponding to $2.1 billion in revenue.

Since 2011, unit sales have plummeted 52.4 percent, and revenues have fallen 43.2 percent, the data says. Overall, 373.2 million magazines were sold at retail in 2016, corresponding to $2.1 billion in revenue.