'Newspaper Circulation Down 0.9 percent in 2005'.
Looking on the online statistic year 1995 to 2005 (below) you could
say that this 0.9 percent is within the fluctuation range over time ...

Enlarge
Take a second look and see the 'Subscriptions per household':
In 1995, the figure is 1.19 percent and 2005 it is 1.04 per household and this represents a decrease in Subscriptions per household by 12.6 percent ... more on circulation
Would such a view point change our perception about what happened in the newspaper industry in other countries too?
Earlier posts on this site:
Circulation Trend for German Newspaper (Daily)
Longtime perspective Dailies US from 'Tageszeitungen in der Krise'
P.S.
NSK stands for the 'Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association'