Daily circulation at leading newspapers in Oregon and Southwest Washington fell an average of 6 percent between the six months ending in March and the six months ending in September of this year. A report compiled by the Audit Bureau of Circulations reflects a confluence of factors, including increased newspaper prices, decreased distribution and an ongoing shift toward online news. One notable exception is The Bulletin in Bend, which saw its circulation increase. We'll have an analysis of these numbers later. OMC does not have complete figures for the year-ago period. If someone else does, please contact us.

Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations FAS-FAX Reports - 3/31/2009, 9/30/2009

UPDATE (11/2, 2:16): Corrected The Register-Guard's current Sunday circulation.

The Oregonian's circulation is down 12 percent from last year, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations figures published today. The paper sold an average of 249,163 copies of its Monday through Friday editions in the six months ending in September. That compares to 283,321 copies in the same period last year.

The numbers may result not only from reduced interest in print editions, but also from a price hike on single-copy sales in July. In the Portland Metro area, The Oregonian's newsstand price increased from 75 cents to $1.00. That increase is part of a national trend among papers to try to boost revenue from newspaper sales as ad sales slump.

The average US newspaper saw a 10 percent circulation decline. Reduced distribution and fewer editions are other factors that can negatively affect newspaper sales. But circulation does not reflect the number of readers per copy, online readership or the level of reader engagement with a paper.

We'll have numbers for additional Oregon publications when the full report is made public, and when the Audit Bureau website comes back online after failing this morning.