Britain’s annual rate of inflation increased slightly during January, but still remained well below the Bank of England’s 2.0% target, according the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s new measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index, rose by 0.1% point to 1.4% last month on the back of bank… Continue reading UK Inflation Inches Up During January

Further signs of an improving advertising economy emerged yesterday as Omnicom Group, the world’s largest agency network, announced that its net income jumped by 10% to $221.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. The group, which owns BBDO Worldwide and TBWA, said that worldwide revenues were up by 18.3% to $2.5 billion. Revenue growth… Continue reading Omnicom Posts 18% Revenue Rise As Markets Improve

Business press advertising expenditure in the US rose by 1.1% during November, although page volumes were down by 3.7%, according to the latest data from American Business Media (ABM). In the year to date spend was up slightly by 0.6% and pages were down by 3.5%. “We are encouraged by the performance of the telecommunications… Continue reading US Business Press Advertising Nudges Up 1% In November

The global market for mobile phones continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2003, with shipments reaching a record high of 167.8 million units, up 29.7% year on year, according to IDC. The fourth quarter closed a particularly strong year for the worldwide mobile phone market as handset sales topped half a billion units… Continue reading Global Mobile Shipments Jump 23% In 2003

The Association of Publishing Agencies has come together with the Advertising Agency Register to launch a consultancy service that allows users to match a client’s brief for a consumer magazine to a publishing agency’s expertise.The partnership will see the AAR provide a range of services to the Association of Publishing Agencies, from managing initial enquiries… Continue reading AAR Launches Consumer Magazine Consultancy Service

Granada Enterprises has confirmed that marketing and research director, Sue Read, is leaving the company following the creation of a single ITV earlier this month.It is understood that Andy Bagnall, director of knowledge management will absorb her research role and Justin Sampson will take assume responsibility for marketing, when he joins ITV later this year… Continue reading Granada Marketing And Research Head To Step Down

Reuters this morning posted underlying profits for the full year which are significantly ahead of market expectations. Group operating profit for 2003 came in at £126 million, up from a loss of £144 million in 2002. Pre-tax profits also showed a substantial turnaround, up from last year’s loss of £493 million to £49 million. Recurring… Continue reading Reuters Results Beat Expectations As Profit Returns

There will be more than 100 mergers and acquisitions in the European media sector this year, as the broader market continues to stage a recovery, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The Insights report says that media deals will be valued at ₏20 billion (£13.5 billion) in Europe this year, as the number… Continue reading European Media Set For Merger Activity As Markets Improve

ITV clawed back some viewing share from the multichannel sector during the final quarter of 2003, according to the latest Trends In Television report from the IPA. The figures show that ITV’s share of viewing was 23.8% in Q4, marginally ahead of multichannel’s 23.7%, but still behind BBC1’s 25.4%. However, whilst ITV made up some… Continue reading ITV Regains Viewing Share In Q4 2003

The National Magazine Company has announced plans to close its contract publishing division after just two years, due to what is claims are insufficient margins.The division was launched November 2001 by joint directors Julian Downing and Carey Sedgwick, who were brought in from John Brown Citrus to head the operation, which offers customer magazines and… Continue reading Natmags Closes Contract Publishing Arm After Two Years