Past Yorkshire district president Ian Simpson, who runs London News and Toys in York, said: “It’s good news to hear that our existing terms will be maintained when the price increases take effect, but newsagents do have long memories – Newsquest has not always supported retailers when putting up their prices in the past. We would remind them that if they want independent newsagents to really back their titles then retail terms should always move on a pro- rata basis when cover prices are increased.”
From Monday May 26 the cover prices of both The Press and the Telegraph and Argus will increase by 5p from 55p to 60p.
According to the NFRN, Newsquest’s move is in stark contrast to that of rival publisher Johnston Press, which last month raised the price of both its Monday to Friday and Saturday editions yet failed to pass on a pro-rata increase to stockists. The move resulted in howls of protest from furious retailers who said they were reviewing their support for the newspaper as a result.
