The International New York Times has blamed its local Thai printer for removing a front-page article on the country’s moribund economy and leaving a blank space on the cover.

Self-censorship is on the rise in the south-east Asian country which is ruled by a military junta. In September, the same paper’s printer stopped its publication over an article on the country’s ailing king.

Tuesday’s story, headlined “Thai economy and spirits are sagging”, reported that Thai households are among the most indebted in Asia, robberies and property crimes have risen more than 60% this year, and the ruling generals are not eager to hand power back to politicians.

It quoted a fruit and vegetable seller who said: “No one feels like smiling anymore”.

A white space on the front page and page six carried the message: “The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal.”

A photo of closed shopfronts in Bangkok that was meant to accompany the story was printed. The article was available online in Thailand.

Eastern Printing PCL, the paper’s Thai printer, did not comment on why it cut the piece, according to Agence France-Presse.

The 22 September edition of the International New York Times was not published in its entirety as the Asia edition featured an article on the declining health of King Bhumibol, the world’s longest serving monarch.

The story focused on concerns over how the succession would affect the stability of the fragile political system, regularly interrupted by army coups. In Thailand, strict lèse-majesté laws make it a crime to criticise, defame or insult members of the royal family, and can land people in jail for up to 15 years on each count.

The front page of today’s Asia edition of the International New York Times and the same edition printed in Bangkok. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Tuesday’s story only briefly mentioned the king’s health but focused on low spirits in a country now ruled by unelected leaders. The printer’s action illustrates the shrinking room for dissent against any figures in power.

Journalists regularly self-censor when reporting on royal affairs. Yet the junta has increasingly cracked down on criticism by detaining journalists, academics and politicians.

Many have been arrested for “attitude adjustment”, a detention programme the government has used to haul in hundreds for interrogation. Authorities have given a vague multi-stage, two-year timeframe for a return to democracy and have warned against any criticism of its rule.

The junta’s chairman and prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the programme would be used against “everyone whose comments cause division, bad intent to the government, criticising the things the government didn’t do, causes trouble and blames a government that’s trying to improve the country”.

Last month he said he could not guarantee the safety of university lecturers who spoke out against the military.

“If they want to engage in activism or whatever, it’s up to them. If they aren’t afraid of the laws, it’s up to them,” he was quoted as saying by news website Khaosod. “And if someone finds a gun and shoot them, or throws grenades at them, well, they have to live with that. If they aren’t afraid, it’s up to them.”

The International New York Times said last month it would stop its operations in Thailand at the end of the year due to rising costs.