Apr 14, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. The latest price push for North American newsprint may be a hard sell to newspaper publishers, but producers are sticking to their guns and slowly gaining ground, according to market analysts. North American newsprint producers are pushing for a $35-per-metric-ton price hike beginning with contracts written either March 1 or April 1. Publishers are trying to resist, but the largest producers claim to be getting the higher prices. Finland's index provider, FOEX, reported its index price for newsprint in Europe was Euro 490.20 a ton, up Euro 0.67, or 0.14%. The index is Euro 24.69 higher than it was on Jan. 1. FOEX reported its index price for newsprint in the U.S. at $564.63 a ton, up $3.52, or 0.6%, from the previous week and $13.85 higher than the Jan. 1 index. One market consultant said discussion he has had with one of the major newsprint producers indicated that production was just about in balance with demand. Enough production capacity may have been removed so support the market price. Publishing companies are beginning to put out their quarterly earnings reports, and Gannett indicated its overall profits were down 3.2%. However, the decline was in its broadcast sector. Newspaper advertising revenues rose 5.3%. FOEX reported a Canadian company has announced an indefinite closure of a plant, further reducing capacity and helping to support the price hikes. Meanwhile, European demand is down, FOEX said. Price negotiations are completed with price increases, although some contracts have check points in the middle of the year.