The Herald has increased the newsstand price of its daily edition from 35 cents to 50 cents, following the lead of newspapers throughout the country.
The Sunday paper will continue to cost $1.50.
The increase is the first in more than 19 years, according to Allen Funk, Herald publisher. Back then, the paper increased from 25 cents to 35.
“We’re not just trying to make more money from our customers,” Funk said. “We’re trying to handle our costs.”
He cited rapidly rising costs for both gasoline and newsprint.
“We’re trying to offset what has now been 13 price increases for newsprint during the past 18 months,” Funk said. “There has been one nearly every month.”
Asked about fuel prices, he added: “Everybody knows what the price of fuel has done.”
The Seattle Times and the Post-Intelligencer both raised their daily newsstand prices Sept. 1 to 75 cents. Their combined Sunday edition will continue to cost $1.50.
In addition to higher newsprint and gasoline costs, a drop in readership and advertising has hurt nearly all newspapers financially.
The New York Times has increased its newsstand prices to $1.50. The Wall Street Journal boosted its price to $2.00.
Newspaper Web sites have seen strong increases in readers. But Internet advertising hasn’t made up for losses in advertising revenue at regular newspapers.
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