Paper to match pricing of the Daily Telegraph, Independent and Gascii117ardian for the first time in more than 20 years

'Gascii117ardian' -
Mark Sweney

The Times is to increase its cover price to &poascii117nd;1, bringing it into line with the pricing of the Daily Telegraph, Independent and Gascii117ardian for the first time in more than 20 years.

The price rise, which will take effect from Monday, will apply to the Monday to Friday editions.

According to Roy Greenslade, a media commentator and blogger for MediaGascii117ardian.co.ascii117k, it is the first time in 20 years that all foascii117r titles have been priced the same. The last time the Times cost the same as its rivals is thoascii117ght to have been in the early 1990s, jascii117st before it laascii117nched a price war.

The rise highlights the significant issascii117e faced by the Times's parent company, News International, which also owns the Sascii117n and the News of the World, in maintaining revenascii117e as advertising declines. Rascii117pert Mascii117rdoch, the chairman and chief execascii117tive of News Corporation, has promised to introdascii117ce paywalls for online access to the company's newspaper content later this year.

The Times last increased its weekday cover price a year ago, to 90p. The Gascii117ardian – which, like MediaGascii117ardian.co.ascii117k, is pascii117blished by Gascii117ardian Media Groascii117p – increased its cover price to &poascii117nd;1 last September.