Slow and Steady: Ad Rates Up 3.8%

October 12, 2010

Two and a half months left of 2010, and The Nielsen Company says the first six months of the year witnessed 3.8% growth rate in U.S. ad spending -- continuing its steady rise over the last year and half.

Though many advertising categories are down, automotive is one of the few bright spots.

Auto, the largest advertising category, is up nearly 27% to $4.4 billion for the first half of 2010 versus 2009. Restaurants also rose -- but not nearly as much -- just 2.5% to $824 million. Two other ad categories grew: department stores (up nearly 5%) and auto insurance (23% higher).

Read the whole story here.