Its red-top rival, the Daily Mirror, was also affected during the Christmas period, as circulation fell by 1.63% to 1,494,114 copies. Its six-month average was down by a larger 3.92% year on year to 1,545,245. The Trinity Mirror title ran an A3 jigsaw puzzle giveaway during December.
The Daily Star was worst hit, dropping 3.58% from November to 726,465 copies, but its six-month average was down by just 0.49% to 782,790 copies.
Pearson's Financial Times, which increased its cover price to £1.50 this week, was once again the only paid-for national newspaper to record a sales rise during the month. Circulation rose by 0.97% to 449,187 copies and its year-on-year average remains positive, up by 2.15% to 439,710.
John Ridding, chief executive of the Financial Times, said: "These figures round off an extremely successful year for the Financial Times. They reflect strong and sustained demand for quality journalism and the value of our international editorial operation at a time of big global stories".
The Independent's circulation continues to slide in the opposite direction to that of the FT, falling 2.15% from November to 228,400 copies. Its six-month average is down 5.71% to 239,244.
News International's The Times was also affected by the holiday season, as its month-on-month circulation dropped by 3.40% to 615,313 copies. The title's six-month average is down 3.73% to 637,776.
The Daily Telegraph recorded a circulation decrease of 1.06% to 873,523 copies and its six-month average is down 1.69% to 884,601.
The Guardian's sales fell by 0.94% to 353,436 copies. Its six-month average is down 4.25% to 360,263.
The Daily Mail, which celebrated the holiday season with a Christmas DVD giveaway, dropped by 0.72% to 2,310,806 copies. Its six-month average is down by only 0.34% to 2,349,782 copies.
Its mid-market rival, the Daily Express, fell 2.91% to 744,539 copies and its six-month average is down 1.65% to 790,198.
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