Johnston Press helped by UK property-market revival

The publisher of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post newspapers, as well as the Limerick Leader and Kilkenny People, today said advertising trends had improved on the back of a resurgent property market in the UK.

Johnston Press, which is to close its printing operations in Kilkenny and Edinburgh, said advertising revenues declined by 19.1% in the 10 weeks to October 31, an improvement on the 26.1% fall in the initial eight weeks of the second half and the 32.7% plunge seen in the first half.