Sep 01, 2004. /Lesprom Network/. Newsprint consumption by US dailies fell 1.2% in July, accorodring to report by the Pulp and Paper Products Council. So far this year, the drop in consumption by US dailies mirrored the monthly decline, and total US consumption is down 1.9% compared to the first seven months of 2003. In July, North American newsprint shipments dropped 5.2% year-over-year. Deliveries by Canadian producers fell 5.1% and US newsprint sales registered a 5.4% decline. North American deliveries were reduced as a result of a 7.5% drop in domestic deliveries. As for exports, North American producers shipped 4.5% more newsprint to overseas markets. To date this year, however, exports have declined nearly 5%. At the end of July, North American mill inventories had risen by 15 000 tonnes from the preceding month, closing at 327 000 tonnes.