The New York Times Co. is closing down its metro distribution center, and cutting 550 jobs, paidContent reported.

The center, called City & Suburban delivers the NYT and about 200 other publications to newsstands and retail stores in the New York area.

According to The Times, the decision to exit the wholesale distribution business since it was formed 16 years ago was due to the economic condition changes, including the online migration of readers and ad revenue as well as the higher cost of fuel. Local delivery will now take care of the NYT Co.'s national distribution by outside companies, paidContent reported.