Market research agencies saw profits rise by more than half on average over the last three years, according to research from direct marketing and business publishing company, The Prospect Shop. The group says that market research agencies are in a highly-successful period of growth. Over the past three full accounting years, the average agency saw… Continue reading Market Research Companies Benefit From Three Strong Years

The UK’s manufacturing industry is firmly stuck in recession, according to the August Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) this morning. The PMI dropped from 47.0 in July to 46.4 in August and the rate of decline for a number of key indicators increased during the month.… Continue reading Industry Surveys Show Deepening Gloom For UK Economy

At the end of last week Zenith Media made further downgrades to its global advertising forecasts, cutting 2001 growth from -1.5% to -2.6% (see Forecasts). UK estimates were reduced from -0.5% to -0.3%. News of a change in Zenith’s advertising forecasts tends to send ripples throughout the industry and today stock in media companies Granada… Continue reading New Zenith Figures Could Indicate Full Consumer Recession, Says ABN

Magazine publishers have seen sales increase by an average of 18% in the three years to October 2000, according to the latest Business Ratio report as analysed by the Periodical Publishers’ Association (PPA). During the same three-year period average profits increased by 5.5% and pre-tax profit margins dropped slightly to 11.2%. The average periodical publisher… Continue reading Magazine Sales Rose 18% In Three Years To October, Finds Survey

Great Britain’s leading commercial radio stations saw sales increase by 37% to an average of £5.4 million over the three accounting years to 1999/2000, according to The Prospect Shop‘s Business Ratio report. Profits rose by 101% to an average of £1.3 million last year. “The last three full accounting years have been extremely prosperous for… Continue reading Radio Companies See Medium-Term Profits Growth, Says Report

Japanese telecoms giant, NTT DoCoMo, is set to become the world’s first group to offer the much-hyped third generation – or 3G – mobile phone system. The company this morning announced that it has applied for permission from the Japanese Government to launch the 3G wireless service on 1 October 2001. The system has been… Continue reading NTT DoCoMo Set To Win 3G Mobile Race

The digital services industry has added its voice to calls for the Government to strengthen the push towards digital take up, warning that Britain will fall behind the rest of Europe unless action is taken. Malcolm Miller, CEO of Pace Technology, which makes set top boxes for the digital TV industry, said: “More action is… Continue reading Set-Top Box Manufacturer Joins Calls For Government To Push Digital

Embattled magazine and internet group, Future Network, is in talks with potential financial investors, according to reports from Reuters today. The news agency says that Electra Partners and Duke Street Capital are separately considering bids of between £80 million and £100 million. Future has declined to comment and it is thought that the talks are… Continue reading Future In Investment Talks, Reports Reuters

The advertising industry looks set for its worst year since the recession of the early 1990s, as Zenith Media has downgraded its global forecasts yet again. According to a report on FT.com, the agency is now predicting a global adspend decline of 2.6%. A couple of months ago it estimated a 1.5% fall. The US… Continue reading Zenith Cuts Ad Forecasts Again

The advertising industry looks set for its worst year since the recession of the early 1990s, as Zenith Media has downgraded its global forecasts yet again. According to a report on FT.com, the agency is now predicting a global adspend decline of 2.6%. A couple of months ago it estimated a 1.5% fall. The US… Continue reading Zenith Cuts Ad Forecasts Again