Publicis Groupe has reported an 8.6% fall in global organic revenue growth for the second quarter of 2009 and although it is forecasting a slow recovery from September it expects no positive growth until mid-2010.
The first six months of the year saw organic revenue growth fall 6.6% year on year. Revenue for the period fell 0.8% year on year to €2.2 billion (£1.9 billion).
The group’s net profits for the first half dipped 13% year on year to €167 million, while operating profits fell 14% to €287 million.
Revenue from digital activities grew 5.7% in the first six months and now account for 20.8% of total revenues.
Publicis Groupe’s UK operation reported a revenue fell of 8.4% year on year in the first half of 2009.
North America suffered from General Motors filing for bankruptcy protection and reported a fall of 3.7% year on year in organic revenue growth in the first six months and 3.8% in the second quarter.
