New circulation numbers out this morning for the Bay Area’s two biggest papers show declines, but not as staggering as the double-digit percentage losses posted in previous years. Weekday circulation at the Chronicle slipped 2.9% to 386,564 while Sunday decreased 2.9% to 438,006, according to E&P, which reported the numbers this morning. At the Mercury News, daily circ declined 4.9% to 230,870 and Sunday decreased 4.4% to 251,666. The daily figures are Monday-Friday averages. For all papers reporting daily circulation, the Newspaper Association of America said that daily circ fell 2.1% while Sunday tumbled 3.1%.