Advertising volumes at the Wall Street Journal declined by 24.4% in May 2002, parent company Dow Jones announced yesterday. This compares to a decline of 35.8% year on year in May 2001 and a rise of 42.7% in May 2000.
Weakness in technology advertising combined with weakness in communications, automotive, travel and professional services advertising were partially offset by an increase in insurance and healthcare advertising.
However, it is financial advertising that has been particularly poor, running well below expectations. Financial ad linage for the Journal declined 44.8% in May compared to a decrease of 36.1% in May of last year. This is due to broader declines in both wholesale and retail advertising, said Dow Jones.