Today's report for the owner of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday newspapers, as well as its regional newspaper division Northcliffe and business-to-business operation DMG Information, suggests profits for 2008 will be closer to the £255m mark than the more optimistic £270m forecasts.
Despite the Daily Mail increasing its cover price by 5p to 50p in April, following The Mail on Sunday's 10p price hike to £1.50 last November, full year operating profits at its Associated Newspapers division are expected to be below last year due to a slowing ad market.
The increases in cover prices means circulation revenues for the national titles are up 1% and once ad spend on accompanying websites are taken into account, revenues are currently up 0.4% year on year.
Overall, the group reported total revenue for the 11 months to end of August up 4%, largely thanks to continued growth at its non-property-related business-to-business publications and events.
Chairman Viscount Rothermere said: "Inevitably, the worsening economic conditions are having an impact on our newspaper and property businesses, but the B2B divisions have continued to perform well.
"The recent events experienced by financial markets and institutions will have no material impact on this year's results."
UK ad revenue is down 9% on last year, but the company said the turmoil of the last few weeks in financial markets would have no impact on this year's results to end of September.
Northcliffe Media, DMGT's regional media business, was hardest hit, dropping 5% in total revenues year on year, despite a 46% rise in digital revenues. Online operations now make up 6% of the business as regional newspapers continue to invest in their websites in the face of falling print circulations.
The update follows DMGT announcing last week that it is merging Associated Newspapers and Northcliffe Media together into a new company called A&N Media.
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