They were reported by the audit bureau, which collected data from the newspapers but has yet to check it.

The audit bureau said those problems had improved significantly in a check of the schools in 1995.

He has asked the audit bureau to change the way it reports the number of subscriptions that magazines acquire at less than full price.

The results were the first that the audit bureau has released since four newspapers, beginning in June, reported they had inflated their circulation.

At the central audit bureau, they meet the Actuaries, robot accountants who have been running both sides of the war for profit.

Most large papers showed slight circulation losses during the period, the Audit Bureau said.

All figures reported yesterday are subject to audit by the Audit Bureau.

The questions asked include whether the number of home subscribers listed in the papers' databases match the home-delivery figures reported to the audit bureau.

In an era of eroding newspaper circulation, they see the audit bureau's rules as capricious and the results irrational.

Circulation is 538,000, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.