Customers were notified both by US Mail and the front page of the Saturday and Sunday editions.

Normally newspapers explain their price hikes to subscribers, but that did not happen this time with The Advocate.

Owned and operated by Gannett, The Advocate, is part of a chain of more than 80 daily papers and has been stung by the recession bug. Staff reductions have been made at all of Gannett's publications.

Some former subscribers also received a bulk mail offer to re-subscribe.

Recent data shows The Advocate has lost some 6,000 customers in recent years, from a high of 22,000, about five years ago.