The editor-in-chief of SPH's English and Malay newspapers, Cheong Yip Seng, said: "The flagship The Straits Times lost less than two per cent of its total circulation. The impact on Berita Harian (the Malay newspaper) was insignificant. The New Paper (the afternoon tabloid) lost a bit more, largely due to the fact that most of its sales are at newsstands."
However, Cheong declined to give more detailed figures. He said it was "premature" to do so and added that the picture would become clearer within two months' time.
Media agency executives also believed the impact of the price rises would be minimal.
MindShare Singapore managing director Manpreet Singh pointed to the strong brand equity possessed by the SPH's stable of newspapers, The Straits Times in particular.
SPH put up its cover newsstand prices last month - The Straits Times, for instance, now costs 80 cents (about US 47 cents), 20 cents more than before. It was the first such increase in nine years, aimed at offsetting higher production costs.