USA Today price going to $1

USA Today said Friday it will raise its newsstand price by 25 cents to $1 to offset rising newsprint costs.

The 33 percent increase could affect the nation's highest-circulation newspaper more than price hikes affect the other two national newspapers, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, because USA Today is more dependent on single-copy sales. The cost of the Times went up 25 cents in August, while the Journal's price rose 50 cents in July.

Even after the increase, USA Today's newsstand price will be less than the $1.50 now charged for weekday editions of the Times and $2 for the Journal.

Neither home delivery rates nor distribution agreements with hotels will be affected by the newsstand price increase for Gannett Co.'s flagship newspaper, which takes effect on Dec. 8. One-third of USA Today's sales are in hotel-guest copies.