Here’s some good news for local newspaper fans: Statistics released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations — “the gold standard in media audits” — shows that The Star’s Sunday circulation rose 2.1 percent between Sept. 30, 2009, and March 31.
Saturday circulation was up by 1.3 percent, and weekday circulation was virtually unchanged.
Sunday circulation stood at 314,449 at the end of March, compared with 307,974 as of last September. Despite the period gain, circulation remains down significantly from March 31, 2009, when it was 333,006.
Saturday circulation, meanwhile, rose from 229,993 to 233,090 during the most recent reporting period. (Like Sunday circulation, that figure remains down from a year ago.)
Weekday circulation came in at 216,446, versus 216,226 as of last September. Daily circulation stood at 234,667 a year ago.
ABC issues new circulation figures every six months.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
The rumors around town this week have it that The Kansas City Star may be going through with another round of newsroom layoffs. I hope the speculation is premature, because the prospect of cuts would particularly unwelcome. Especially given that 1) McClatchy, The Star’s parent company, actually turned a profit this quarter, and 2) The Star’s circulation figures appear to have stabilized over the last six months.