The Sunday Times has increased its cover price by 20p to £2.20 from 19 September.

The increase has been initiated across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. However, the cover price of its sister title, The Times, is to remain at £1.

The price increase makes The Sunday Times the most expensive national Sunday newspaper in the country. The Sunday Telegraph is priced at £1.90, The Observer at £2 and The Independent on Sunday at £1.80.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned title has increased its cover price after four years. It had been raised to £2 in 2006.

News International, the newspaper's parent company, is understood to have raised the price of The Sunday Times to combat the tough environment faced by the national newspaper market.

According to the ABC figures for August, The Sunday Times circulation fell by 0.18 per cent to 1,066,240 copies from 1,068,158 in July.