Circulation continues to drop at U.S. newspapers.

Figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average daily circulation fell 8.7 percent in the six months ended March 31, compared with the same period a year earlier.

That's not as steep a decline as the 10.6 percent drop in the last reporting period, which ran from April through September last year.

Sunday circulation fell 6.5 percent.

There are many reasons for the declines, including the rise of free news on the Web. Also, publishers have sought to offset losses in advertising revenue by raising newsstand and subscription prices. Some newspapers have reduced delivery to unprofitable areas.