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The Independent's spin off daily i has enjoyed a sales hike in February of almost a third over the previous month, when it reported its first official circulation figures.

According to today's ABC figures, total sales for the Independent's smaller sister paper were up 31.6 per cent to 175,714 for the month.

The newspaper has reportedly enjoyed a sales boost after a national advert campaign featuring celebrities Jemima Khan and Dom Joly was aired earlier in the year.

Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of i and the Independent, said: "As we look forward to celebrating our 100th issue next week, the sales growth and success of i is continuing to prove that there is still an appetite for quality journalism from readers who prize intelligence and convenience at a desirable price."

Managing director of the two newspapers Andrew Mullins lauded the success over the Independent's closest competitor, the Guardian – which fell 7.7 per cent year-on-year to 262,212:

"The combined package that we are now able to offer across i and the Independent gives advertisers access to a quality broadsheet-reading audience that is significantly bigger than that of the Guardian."

Sales of the Independent fell year-on-year, but by relatively little next to its competitors. Its 0.56 per cent drop to 182,513 compared favourably with an 11.7 per cent fall for the Times, which led declines across most national dailies.

Richard Desmond's the Daily Star – which was in the news this week after reporter Richard Peppiatt quit over claims of "hate-mongering" – fared almost as badly as the Times, reporting a 10.6 per cent year-on-year drop to 718,478.

Desmond's other national title, the Daily Express, fell by 7.4 per cent year-on-year to 623,303.

The Sun remains the UK's biggest-selling title with an average circulation of 2,818,344 for the month, down 5.2 per cent year-on-year. Second-biggest seller the Daily Mail suffered less than most with just a 2 per cent year-on-year drop to 2,070,625.


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