The number of bulk copies the Associated paper gave away was hardly changed, at 99,731 in January compared with 99,354 in December.
An added bonus was the return to growth from a long-term perspective -- its six-month average circulation is now heading upwards, by 1.91% from 283,170 to 288,570.
The battle between London's afternoon free papers was won this month by News International's thelondonpaper, which distributed 500,592 copies, up 6.25% from December.
Its Associated rival London Lite distributed 398,820, up 2.44% on December.
Associated's London morning freesheet Metro recorded a new circulation high of 751,444, up 1.23% on December. Metro, which upped its print run in autumn last year, grew its six-month average by 25.45% year on year to 691,634.
Financial freesheet City AM fell 2.35% on December to 84,489, although its six-month average is up 6.57% to 93,233.
Finally, Metro's national circulation is up 0.68% to 1,363,976 in January and its six-month average is up 15.76% to 1,291,974.
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