• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, May 8, 2006

According to the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) Ad Sales Index, 1^st Quarter 206, national dollars continue to lead Radio ad revenues with a 1% increase for March 2006 over March 2005.  Local revenue slipped 2% for the month when compared to the same month from a year ago.  Total combined local and national sales figures also dropped 1% for March of this year over March of last year,

 On a year-to-date basis, national figures climbed 3% for first quarter 2006 compared to that same quarter from a year ago.   Local dollars for January through March of 2006 dropped 2% when compared to those same months from last year.  Total combined local and national ad sales figures for the first quarter of 2006 fell 1% when compared to first quarter of 2005.  Non-spot revenue experienced a healthy climb of 9% January through March 2006 over January through March 2005. 

 The monthly totals are based on the RAB Radio Revenue Index of more than 150 markets.