Two Stockholm free dailies, Metro and City, have lost readers in the first four months this year compared to the same period in 2007. Metro's daily circulation dropped from 554,000 to 545,000, while City (Bonnier) has 482,000 readers now versus 518,000 in 2007, Newspaper Innovation reported.

Another free paper, Punk.SE, was still published in the first three months of 2008, but closed down in May. Readership for the next period is expected to rise again.

In Göteborg, Metro's reader numbers have dropped from 226,000 to 208,000. In Malmö, however, circulation increased from 140,000 to 149,000. In both markets, Punk.SE also closed down in May.

In terms of paid papers, Dagens Nyheter, Göteborgs Posten and Svenska Dagbladet increased readership, while Sydsvenskan, Aftonbladet and Expressen did not, Newspaper Innovation reported.