Lee Barely Up in Oct, 0.3%

By: E&P Staff Lee Enterprises reported that advertising revenue in October grew 0.3% compared to the same period last year.

Excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestitures made in the current or prior year, retail advertising declined 1%. Classified revenue rose 0.7%. Within the classified category, help wanted and real estate grew 17.5% and 11.5% respectively. Automotive decreased 16.4%. Other newspaper classified revenue slipped 7.8% and classified in its non-daily publications dropped 8.5%.

Niche publication revenue decreased 13.1% and online advertising revenue grew 31.9%. Circulation revenue decreased 2.3%.

Including the effect of acquisitions and divestitures, total advertising revenue grew 75.3%. Total operating revenue increased 69.8%.

Advertising revenue for Pulitzer for the end of Oct. 30 decreased 1.2% compared with the same period last year. Total revenue was down 2%. In St. Louis, ad revenue dropped 2.8% led by declines in classified automotive. Total revenue was down 3.8%.

In Pulitzer's other newspapers, advertising revenue increased 2.6% and total revenue rose 2.2%.

In the 50% partnership in Tucson (it's not included in Pulitzer's results), advertising revenue increased 9.1% and total revenue was up 7.1%.