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Of the top 25 daily newspapers in the US, only four had circulations gains for the six-month period ending Sept. 30 over the year-earlier period, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) FAS-FAX preliminary numbers issued earlier this week, writes Editor & Publisher (via MarketingCharts).

USA Today, the largest US newspaper, increased circulation 1.04 percent, to 2,293,137; No. four Los Angeles Times increased 0.5 percent; No. 16 The Philadelphia Inquirer increased 2.31 percent; and No. 22 St. Petersburg Times increased 0.04 percent.

According to data reported for 538 daily US newspapers, circulation declined 2.5 percent to 40,689,617 compared with the average for the second and third quarters (combined) of 2006; for 609 Sunday papers, circulation dropped 3.5 percent to 46,771,486.

Of the top 25 Sunday papers, just three had circulation increases in the six-month period ended Sept. 30, compared with the average for the year-earlier period, according to the E&P report.

No. six Houston Chronicle gained 0.09 percent; No. 20 St. Louis Post-Dispatch gained 0.43 percent; and No. 23 St. Petersburg Times increased average Sunday circulation 0.85 percent.

Some other highlights:

• The Wall Street Journal was down 1.53 percent, to 2,011,882.
• New York Times circulation fell 4.51 percent to 1,037,828 and Sunday circulation fell 7.59 percent, to 1,500,394.
• New York Post daily circ was down 5.2 percent, to 667,119; Sunday fell 5 percent, to 405,486.
• New York's Daily News declined 1.7 percent, to 681,415; Sunday decreased 6.8 percent, to 726,305.
• Los Angeles Times daily circ grew 0.5 percent to 779,682; Sunday fell 5.1 percent to 1,112,165.
• Washington Post circulation was down 3.2 percent to 635,087; Sunday was down 3.9 percent, to 894,428.
• Chicago Tribune daily circulation slipped 2.9 percent, to 559,404; Sunday fell 2 percent, to 917,868.
• Boston Globe circulation fell 6.6 percent, to 360,695; Sunday fell 6.5 percent, to 548,906.
• San Francisco Chronicle daily circulation was down 2.9 percent, to 365,234; Sunday circulation was down 0.66 percent, to 430,115.