• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, March 27, 2013

Internet ad spending hit $99 billion in 2012, just shy of the 12-figure mark held by only one other medium -- television -- according to new estimates from GroupM. Based on its current trajectory, Internet ad spending will break into the 12-figures this year, totaling $113.5 billion.

Internet ad spending rose 16.2% in 2012, representing 19.5% of all global ad spending last year, according to the report.

North America led the world in overall digital advertising investment with an estimated $38.3 billion; Asia-Pacific came in second with $30.6 billion followed by Western Europe with $24.1 billion, according to the study, entitled This Year, Next Year: Interaction 2013.