Inquirer, Daily News circulation slips

The Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News both posted circulation declines for the six months ended March 31, the Audit Bureau of Circulation reported today.

Average Monday-to-Friday circulation was 334,150 at The Inquirer, a decline of 5.1 percent compared with the same period in 2006-07. The Daily News' average weekday circulation was 110,719, a 9.7 percent decline from the year-earlier period.

Mark Frisby, executive vice president for production, labor and purchasing at the papers' parent, Philadelphia Media Holdings L.L.C., attributed the declines to the papers' reduced use of "less-profitable circulation programs" and to a price increase.

The papers raised their prices in February and March. The prices of the daily Inquirer and Daily News were raised to 75 cents; the price of Sunday Inquirer was raised to $1.75. On March 1, seven-day home delivery of The Inquirer rose to $5.60 per week.

Frisby noted that the declines followed "two historic circulation gains." In September 2007, The Inquirer reported the biggest gain in daily circulation among the nation's 50 largest papers.

The losses this year were expected, he said, after the price increases and after circulation programs that included heavily discounted home-delivery subscriptions and two-for-one street sales.