Newsagents have criticised margin changes at a group of Archant weeklies as a “bitter blow”.

New owner Newsquest has announced cover price increases, along with retailer margin cuts, at five titles in the South-West of England.

From tomorrow, prices of the Sidmouth Herald, Weston Mercury, Exmouth Journal and Budleigh Journal increase by 10p to £1.

According to Better Retailing, margins for the Mercury will drop to 22.5pc and for the Herald to 21.5pc.

At the Journal titles, the margins will fall to 19.5pc.

Newsquest told Better Retailing the changes have been made due to the “ever-increasing cost of newsprint, fuel, energy and staffing”.

The Federation of Independent Retailers, known as The Fed, has also criticised the move.

The Fed’s head of News Brian Murphy said: “These latest margin cuts are another bitter blow for news retailers, especially as they coincide with Newsquest announcing a pre tax profit of £45.2 million.”