United Business Media’s US high-tech publishing division, CMP Media, has published advertising data for April which show volumes down 20.7% compared to a market down 36.1%.
This is the latest in a trend of decline for the US technology publishing advertising market which has seen volumes fall by 41.1% in the year to date; CMP’s volumes have fallen by 28.8% over the year, substantially outperforming the market average. It has beaten the market average mainly by growing its market share, up to 30.8% in April 2002 from 24.8% the year before.
The declines are reducing as the comparables ease further into the year. Analysts at ABN Amro are expecting a full-year decline in ad volumes of 12.6% for CMP, with a 16.7% decline in Q2. Growth is expected to return in Q4, although this is a result of easier comparisons rather than any strong inherent growth in the high-tech market, says the broker.
