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House & Garden, which showed a 2.9 per cent drop year on year, benefited from a substantial fall by its rival - the IPC title fell 9 per cent on the previous year to 136,088.

The rest of the sector remained static. IPC's market-leading Ideal Home posted a circulation of 245,729, down 5.6 per cent on the previous year.

However, it stretched its lead over its nearest competitor, The National Magazine Company's House Beautiful, which posted an ABC figure of 198,112. This represented a fall of 8 per cent on the previous year.

In the gardening sector, all the paid-for magazines were down period on period, reflecting seasonal fluctuations. However, they were also down year on year as the gardening sector continued to experience tough trading conditions. This downturn resulted in the closure of Seven Publishing's Garden Life.

Seamus Geoghegan, Seven's group managing director, says: "I think the magazines will have to ride out a storm. I hope this year sees better weather, which could do a lot to improve the fortunes of garden centres."

Verdict Despite a lack of growth in the cluttered home-interest sector, more titles are set to enter. Launches this year include Burda Media's Living & Gardens and a monthly homes title, Inside Out, from News Magazines.

In the present climate, it is unlikely there will be much growth in the gardening sector.

HOME INTEREST TITLE PUBLISHER Total ABC Period-on Year-on -period -year % change % change Ideal Home IPC Media 245,729 -0.5 -5.6 House Beautiful NatMags 198,112 -1.5 -8.0 Country Living NatMags 191,225 0.8 3.3 House & Garden Conde Nast 140,361 0.2 -2.9 Homes & Gardens IPC Media 136,088 -7.0 -9.1 BBC Good Homes BBC Magazines 135,690 0.0 4.6 Your Home Essential 120,900 -7.2 -4.9 Ideal Homes Guide to Xmas IPC Media 113,636 n/a -4.5 25 Beautiful Homes IPC Media 113,281 5.7 0.8 Wallpaper IPC Media 110,246 2.3 2.3 Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, July-December 2005. GARDENING TITLE PUBLISHER Total ABC Period-on Year-on -period -year % change % change BBC Gardeners' World BBC Magazines 235,792 -27.8 -8.5 Garden News Emap 47,239 -13.3 -6.2 Amateur Gardening IPC Media 45,872 -10.5 -7.8 BBC Easy Gardening BBC Magazines 40,095 -25.8 -27.8 Garden Answers Emap 38,707 -30.2 -21.7 Kew Royal Botanic 31,390 n/a 8.3 Source Audit Bureau of Circulations, July-December 2005.