ACP believes gross readership will record a strong rise for the 2010 calendar year when the figures are released later this month.

Phil Scott, managing director of ACP Magazines says, “Challenging conditions for all retailers are well documented. While the rise of digital media is a reality, we do not believe it was as significant a factor on magazine sales in the December half as cyclical issues in the Australian economy.”

According to ACP, consumers spent $470m dollars buying a total of 93.1 million officially audited magazines for the six months to December, down 2.8 per cent over the June half.

Scott adds that the latest ABC audit reflects a year of uncertainty and disruption saysing, “The federal election campaign, a hung parliament, four interest rate rises – an increase of one per cent during 2010 – and some of the largest utility bill hikes ever, have all weighed on consumer confidence.”

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