The cover price of IThe Royal Gazette will increase to $1on Monday.

The price was last increased from 80 cents to 90 cents one year ago.

Monday's increase is necessary due to continued rising costs, especially in the price of newsprint and electricity, said Royal Gazette Ltd. general manager Keith Jensen.

The price increase will electronic edition can be obtained for as little as 53 cents a day. This service can be accessed at www.theroyalgazette.com.

"We regret that we again have to increase the price of the newspaper and appreciate that some of our customers are already feeling some financial pressure, but since our last price increase 12 months ago, the cost of doing business in Bermuda has increased even more, despite our best efforts to contain costs," said Editor Bill Zuill.

"For example, the rate of inflation was 5.9 percent in September and many of our costs, for items like paper and electricity, have been even higher than that.

"As Isaid last year, in order to continue to produce the high quality daily newspaper that Bermuda deserves, and to continue to improve it, we have to meet the price increases that affect us, just as any other business or individual does."

But Mr. Zuill said newspapers generally, and IThe Royal Gazette $in particular, remain a great bargain for the price.

"The newspaper provides its readers with a plethora of trusted and reliable information about Bermuda and the world all for far less than the price of a cup of coffee or a pack of gum," he said.

"Our recent readership and advertiser surveys showed that IThe Royal Gazette$ is far and away Bermuda's top and most relied on source for news and information

"Advertisers also regard us as the best way to reach the largest number of people in the most cost effective way. "We are grateful to our readers and advertisers' support in a difficult economic environment."