Guardian website reaches record audience in January

Online newspapers in UK were very popular during January reaching a new high of almost 30 million users.

Guardian.co.uk reached a record audience in January, attracting almost 30m unique users in a month where all UK national newspaper websites posted record results, according to the latest ABCe (Audit Bureau of Circulation Electronic) figures.

The Guardian remains the most popular newspaper site, increasing its users by 30.6 per cent month on month in January to 29.8m.

The paper's UK user total jumped from 8.4m in December 2008  to 11.27m in January 2009. According to The Guardian, its jobs site alone attracted 2m unique users.

Telegraph.co.uk held onto second place after its users shot up 23.1 per cent month on month to 25.9m. Its UK users increased from 6.9m in December to 8.7m in January.

Times Online grabbed third place back from the MailOnline after its unique users increased by 19.8 per cent during the month to hit a record 22.9m.

MailOnline, which includes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday sites, posted a 16.3 per cent month-on-month increase in users to 22.88m. Its UK unique users rose to 7.28m, up from 6m in December.

The Sun, which includes the daily newspaper site, as well as NewsoftheWorld.co.uk and Page3.com, jumped 15.6 per cent to 21.9m. Its UK user total also increased from 6.5m in December to 8.17m in January.

Independent.co.uk posted a 17 per cent month-on-month increase to 10.24m unique users, while its UK users increased from 3.6m in December to 4.4m in January.

Mirror Group, spanning Mirror.co.uk, SundayMirror.co.uk and People.co.uk, increased its users by 25 per cent month on month to 6.65m users. UK user totals increased from 3m in December to 3.69m in January, which equates to 56 per cent of its total audience