SOARING printing expenses and other increased costs have forced an increase in the cover price of the Sunraysia Daily print editions from July 1.

The Monday, Wednesday and Friday editions will increase by 20 cents to $2.20, while the Saturday edition will increase by 30 cents to $2.80.

ENG Media managing director Ross Lanyon said the company had absorbed the increases as long as possible, but cost increases needed to be passed on to continue sustainability.

Mr Lanyon said in the past two years, the cost of newsprint had increased more than 50 per cent and ink prices by more than 60 per cent.

“Along with increased transport costs due to the cost of petrol, increased electricity prices and other costs such as insurance, we were left with no choice,” he said.

Mr Lanyon said the company had reinvested in the editorial capacity at the Sunraysia Daily, recently employing two journalists, and the quality of local news coverage would continue to improve.

“We have never had more readers whether it be the newspaper, the website or social media,” he said.

“Being a family-owned company based in the Mallee, we understand the importance of local news to local people.”