Gannett Down in August

By: E&P Staff Gannett reported today that pro forma newspaper advertising revenue declined slightly in August, down 0.9% compared to the same period a year ago. Run of Press (ROP) volume decreased 1.4% and preprint volume slipped 2%.

Local advertising revenue increased 1.7% on a 0.5% increase in ROP ad volume. The performance of the company?s small and medium-sized advertisers in its domestic newspapers outpaced the revenue performance of its largest advertisers.

Classified revenue dropped 3.2% on a 1.9% decline in ROP volume. Real estate revenue was up 8.9%. Employment and automotive advertising decreased 6.2% and 13.3% respectively. Classified results in Gannett?s domestic properties outpaced the results in the United Kingdom. In the U.S. classified revenue was down 2.4%. Real estate grew 9.5%, employment dropped 6.7%, and auto decreased 11.5%.

National advertising slipped 1% on a 10.5% decline in ad volume.

At USA Today, ad revenue rose 0.8% on a decline in paid ad pages to 239 from 250. The entertainment, technology, automotive, and telecommunications categories were soft.