Tribune Down in Feb.

By: E&P Staff Tribune reported today that consolidated revenue for February decreased 3.0% to $408 million compared to the same period last year.

Publishing revenue at the company dropped 2.4% to $314 million. Advertising revenue decreased 2.2% to $248 million.

Retail advertising dropped 4.7% with weakness in the food and drug, department store, and electronics categories. Preprint revenue was down 6% primarily due to a decline at Newsday. Excluding Newsday, preprint revenue slipped 1%.

National advertising decreased 11.5% due to lower movie and automotive advertising.

Classified revenue grew 7.2%. Within that category, real estate jumped 35% and employment increased 5%. Auto fell 11%.

Interactive revenue, which is primarily included in classified, was up 24% to $17 million.

Circulation revenue was down 3.9% due to selectively higher discounting at some newspapers.