Global Ad Spend Shows Modest Growth in Q1

After increasing by 3.2% in 2012, global ad spending displayed weaker growth in the first quarter of this year, per the latest figures from Nielsen. Spending was flat in North America, while expenditures in Europe retreated by 4.4%, despite reports of improving budget conditions in that region during the first quarter. Interestingly, after a buoyant 2012 that saw ad expenditures grow by 14.6%, the Middle East and Africa region fell back to earth with a moderate 2.9% rise in spend. (more…)