After so many negative ad sales reports and doom and gloom forecasts, ad tracking service Kantar Media is reporting first quarter 2010 advertising spending was up 5.1 percent. This is the first quarter with a gain since the first quarter of 2008, and the largest increase in ad spending since first quarter 2006.
Thirteen of 19 media types tracked showed first quarter gains. Spot television had the largest gain at 22 percent. Print media including Sunday newspaper magazines, Spanish-language magazines and national newspapers had gains. Of media types experiencing first quarter declines, syndicated television showed the sharpest decline at 13.2 percent.
Looking at ad categories, 9 of the top 10 categories increased ad spending in the period, with direct marketing the only category with lower spending. Top category increases include:
- Automobiles +18.6%
- Telecommunications +10.6%
- Financial Services +10.1%
- Misc. Retail +8.9%
So finally some good news on the overall ad spend front after a long stretch of declines. How about things on the local level? Are you seeing budgets increasing? Tell us in the comments.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Michelle OBrien