Total U.S.
advertising expenditures the first quarter of 2013 declined 0.1 percent from a
year ago and finished the period at $30.2 billion, according to the
latest data from Kantar Media,
a provider of strategic advertising and marketing information. Ad spending
during the fourth quarter of 2012 rose 2 percent versus the year ago
period.
"It has been a
lackluster start for 2013, with flat year-over-year results due in part to
strong 2012 growth caused by political and Olympic ad spending,” said Jon
Swallen, Chief Research Officer at Kantar Media North America. “Data from the
early second quarter are mixed, suggesting marketers are still being cautious
and conservative with ad budgets. However, there are some bright spots, including
healthy growth for Hispanic media and Outdoor.”
