The figures appeared to have been boosted by increases in volumes within the customer publishing sector, with four appearing within the top six magazines with the highest net circulation. They showed a combined single-digit increase, led by Morrisons magazine, which grew by 10.4%. Virgin Media’s Electric! was the highest debut title with a circulation of 400,000.

Customer magazines within the top 100 had a combined circulation of 13,137,927, representing 37% of the circulation of the top 100 magazines, which was 35,493,551 altogether.

However, the traditional consumer magazine sectors continued to struggle, with some experiencing double-digit sales drops on the newsstands.

The biggest drop in net circulation was for children’s magazines, which reported a 17.4% decline, followed by football, which dropped by 15%. Women’s magazines saw large falls, with women’s general interest declining by 9.5%, weeklies by 8% and health and beauty by 7.4%.

Sectors showing the biggest circulation increases were countryside and county: regional, which grew by 182.6% followed by pre-teen children’s magazines, which increased by 158.1% and general health and fitness which grew by 60.6%.

Barry McIlheney, chief executive of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA), said: "Innovation and creativity remain at the core of today's successful consumer magazine brands as they build their reach by capitalising on new opportunities online, on mobile devices, via social networks, and through face-to-face events."