• by October 12, 2005

According to the latest report from the Radio Advertising Bureau, radio revenues returned to positive growth in August:

• Total combined spot and non-spot dollars increased 2% over the same month a year ago
• Local ad sales for August of this year climbed 3% compared to August of last year
• National dollars remained flat in the same month-to-month comparison.  Combined local and national ad sales figures rose 2% August of this year over August of last year. 
• Non-spot revenue was the only sector to experience a downturn, dipping 5%

 On a year-to-date basis, total combined spot and non-spot sales figures rose 1% for the first eight months of 2005 compared to the first eight months of 2004.  Local sales figures for January through August of this year also grew 1% over those same months from a year ago.  National revenue for January through August of 2005 increased 1% over January through August of 2004.  Total combined local and national spot dollars for the first eight months of this year also grew 1% January though August of this year compared to January through August of last year.  Similar to the Radio revenue results for the month, non-spot dollars remained flat January through August 2005 over January through August 2004.

 The RAB Ad Sales Index, that equates base year 1998 to 100, puts the intermediate and long-term growth of the Radio industry into perspective. Sales indexes for the month of August 2005 are:

• Local, 131.1
• National, 121.0
• Combined local and national, 127.1

Looking at the sales indexes from a year to date basis for January through August 2005, they are:

• Local, 140.1
• National, 141.2
• Combined local and national, 140.2.

 Gary Fries, President and Chief Executive Officer, RAB, says "Radio remains relevant to today's consumers, even as new media proliferates. During the recent tragedies in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, we witnessed the significance of Radio's unduplicated localism and mobility.  As Radio transitions into the digital arena with HDRadio, its ability to engage consumers on a variety of levels will accelerate its growth even further."