Most current affairs magazines in the United Kingdom reported increased sales for the second half of 2008, even as the global economy continued to spiral, Press Gazette reported Thursday.

The Economist grew 3.1 percent year-on-year, to a weekly 186,995 copies; however, 20 percent of those copies were given away for free, as part of a the magazine's "monitored free distribution" scheme. The Spectator also reported a record circulation of 77,146, although it, too, distributed 20 percent of its copies for free.

Private Eye continued to be the biggest selling current affairs title, with sales of 203,234 per two weeks, even though sales are down slightly from last year, according to Press Gazette. Dennis-owned news digest magazine The Week increased by 6.4 percent and posted circulation figures of 154,512. Moneyweek reported year-on-year increases of 16.6 percent, to 38,916, as readers sought financial advice amid the economic downturn.

Circulation figures for the Oldie touched 31,391, up 21.4 percent, and the political monthly Prospect circulated 27,623 copies, up 3.2 percent from last year.