Mixed fortunes for The Economist in 2015

The Economist has seen its combined print and digital circulation across Asia drop in the second half of 2015, with print the hardest hit. In the last six months of 2015 print circulation dropped to 104,947, from 113,874 in the January to June period. Digital circulation however jumped a strong 15.3% in the six months to December 2015.Globally, the trend of stronger digital circulation was reflected with a 31% increase in digital circulation globally. Digital circulation now stands at 303,686.Michael Brunt, CMO and managing director of circulation at The Economist, said the goal is to double the profitability of its circulation business within the next five years. "Our profitability is driven by continued growth of digital subscriptions and tight management of our print circulation."Digital growth has seen The Economist cut 100,000 print copies globally, which will be reflected in the next ABC report.