Most magazines subscriptions are sold for the printing and distribution
cost. That is because they make their money on advertising. the higher the
magazine sales, the higher the ad rates. In the final analysis, the health
of the high end audio industry will control the fate of the magazine, since
they are the ones that purchase the ads.

Sales are based on subscriptions and store sales (book stores, audio stores,
etc). The post office statistics are irrelevant. Magazine sales
(subscriptions and store sales) are audited by an independent agency to
protect advertisers. The audited statistics subtract out copies that are
printed and not sold by stores (returns), or are extra copies printed for
office use.

Does anyone have a history the audited sales statistics for Stereophile? It
should be printed in the magazine once per year.