Three of the 10 daily newspapers in the Bay Area whose circulation is reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations posted gains in the October-March period compared to the same period last year, according to figures released today.

The Chronicle suffered the biggest losses — down 15.7% Monday-Friday to 312,188, and down 16.5% on Sunday to 354,752.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s weekday circulation fell by 10.5% to 69,812, and on Sunday it dropped by 7.1% to 72,906.

The Mercury News also reported losses, but by smaller percentages than the Chron and Press-Democrat. The Merc was down 3.3% to 227,119 weekdays and down 2.9% to 244,661 on Sunday.

The Marin Independent Journal was down 11.4% weekdays (to 28,281) and down 9.1% on Sunday (to 30,840).

The Vallejo Times Herald was down 6.7% weekdays (to 15,817) and down 6.2% on Sunday (to 15,871).

The Napa Valley Register was down 14.7% on weekdays (to 14,497) and down 11.4% on Sunday (to 14,414)

The Santa Cruz Sentinel’s circulation fell 5% weekdays (to 22,137) and 5.6% on Sunday (to 21,865).

While we’re on the coast, the Monterey County Herald dropped 5.6% weekdays (to 27,306) and 6.6% on Sunday (to 28,778).

Three papers bucked the trend and attracted new paid subscribers.

The Walnut Creek-based Contra Costa Times, located in a county hard hit by the foreclosure crisis, reported a 1.4% weekday circulation increase (to 185,699) and 0.1% on Sundays (to 194,445). On Sundays the Coco Times gained 242 readers.

The Oakland Tribune reported a weekday circulation of 99,978, a 3.6% increase, and 95,530 on Sundays, a 4.6% increase.

The San Mateo County Times also reported a weekday circulation increase of 5.2% to 27,345. However its Sunday number was down 1.8% to 28,281.

Statewide, the biggest papers in the state in terms of Monday-Friday circulation are:

1. Los Angeles Times, 723,181 (-6.6%)

2. Chronicle, 312,118 (-15.7%)

3. San Diego Union-Tribune, 261,253 (-9.5%)

4. Sacramento Bee, 248,855 (-7.4%)

5. Orange County Register, 230,877 (-12.8)

6. Mercury News, 227,119 (-3.3%)

Tomorrow: A look at circulation trends over the past 10 years.