One of the UK's leading advertising agencies has predicted a rise in global ad spend in 2013, building upon an improved 2012 and revising previously lower expectations.
From the Aegis PLC website:


Based on data received from 57 markets around the world, Carat predicts further positive momentum for global advertising expenditure in 2014, increasing by +5.0% compared with the latest 2013 forecast of +3.7%
Despite two years of Eurozone turmoil and concerns over the U.S 'fiscal cliff' these latest projections for Western Europe and North America are encouraging for digital marketers. Digital Advertising includes advertising spend from Search, Display, Online Video, Social Media and Mobile - the modern mediums of advertising and where marketers must carefully place their budgets.

Thanks to the London Olympics, the UK experienced some respite from tricky conditions in 2012 and the same theory is expected to boost Russia and Brazil as they respectively prepare to host the Winter Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup in 2014.

“Carat’s latest advertising forecast gives us increased optimism for the outlook for global advertising spends, particularly for 2014, "said Jerry Buhlmann, chief executive of Aegis Group plc.

"For some markets the journey will remain challenging as the economic trend of two-speed world continues, with lower growth in Western Europe and North America and higher growth in the faster-growing regions of Asia Pacific and Latin America.

“As expected, the trend of audiences moving online continues and with digital advertising comes greater accountability. So while television remains the dominant medium it is clear that the advertising businesses which can innovate and implement truly cross-platform converged communication plans, combining online and offline campaigns will be the most successful and deliver the best results for clients. Evolving and challenging, the advertising industry is never anything but exciting.”