According to the Audit Bureau of Circulation’s Fas-Fax report for the first half of 2006, Rodale Inc. magazines are reporting increases in average paid circulation. ABC data show gains over first half of 06 with four titles showing a more than four percent increase in total paid circulation.

The Audit Bureau survey reports the following:

  • Men’s Health’s is now the No. 1 single copy seller in the men’s market. The Men’s Health circulation story continues to demonstrate the strong consumer demand for the title with double-digit growth on newsstand. The magazine jumped 10 percent at newsstand to 542,092, and on average, 49,413 additional copies per issue or almost 250,000 more copies sold than the prior period. These gains were posted even as Men’s Health raised its single copy price point to $4.50 with the January/February issue.
  • Best Life showed a considerable increase in subscribers, jumping 63 percent since last year. Total paid circulation is up 38.2 percent over last year with a paid circulation of 422,324.
  • Although no prior year comparison data is available for Rodale’s newest title Women’s Health, the magazine is showing a total paid circulation of 518,516 with a rate base of 400,000. Due to such strong reader response, with the July/August issue, Women’s Health raised its rate base to 600,000 from 400,000, a 50 percent increase, and will again raise its rate base to 750,000 in January 2007.
  • Runner’s World is up at newsstand 4.8 percent, the best-selling first half at newsstand in its 40-year history. This marks the 13th-straight year of paid circulation increase. Additionally, the January 2006 issue was the best-selling issue in its history, with 100,308 copies sold.

“Our magazines strong circulation performance is a tribute to our editors and the products they create,” said Joyce Shirer, Senior Vice President of Circulation Marketing. “The newsstand gains posted by Men’s Health, particularly in this competitive marketplace, are extremely impressive, especially considering we raised our single copy price point in January.”