The Times continues to show growth in daily and Sunday circulation, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations Fas-Fax for the six-month period ending Sept. 30.

Daily circulation of The Times grew by 462 copies, or .55 percent, to 83,054, and Sunday circulation grew by 995 copies or 1.1 percent to 91,763.

In contrast, The Post-Tribune lost 4,583 daily copies, or 7.7 percent, of its previously reported daily circulation, dropping its daily circulation to 59,377. It lost 4,130 copies, or 6.4 percent, on Sunday, taking its Sunday circulation to 60,732.

The Fas-Fax report shows The Times with a circulation lead over The Post-Tribune of 24,139 daily and 31,031 Sunday.

"I'm not sure I want to comment on why the Post-Tribune's numbers are in such a free-fall," said Bill Masterson, publisher of The Times. "At The Times, we not only try to provide the best possible local product we can to the communities we serve, but we are committed to being a part of those communities," Masterson said.

The Fas-Fax is reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the industry auditing service based in Schaumburg, Ill.

"In this time of consolidation in our industry, we have resisted the best we could. Instead, we have brought some functions from other newspapers here to Northwest Indiana. I think that has been a key to our success," Masterson said. "The pressman, mailroom or telephone operator is also your next door neighbor -- which means a lot."