US research revenue up 1.6% in 2008, says Honomichl
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US— Research agencies in the US saw domestic revenue grow just 1.6% last year to $8.9bn, according to the latest estimates from industry commentator Jack Honomichl.
The top 50 agencies accounted for just over $8bn in revenue. Nielsen led the pack with $2.2bn in domestic sales, followed by the recently-merged TNS and Kantar Group with combined revenue of $918m.
Familiar names made up the bulk of the table, however there were five new entries. Highest-placed was online community builder Communispace, coming in at 29 and with year-on-year growth of 27% to $29m. Other newcomers were Iconoculture (40), CMI (45), Chadwick Martin Bailey (47) and Roger Green & Associates (50).
Seventeen firms saw year-on-year declines in revenue, 11 of which featured in the first-half of the table.
The top 10 agencies by US revenue were:
- Nielsen – $2,231m, down 0.4%
- Kantar Group – $918m, down 5.1%
- IMS Health – $842m, up 3.1%
- Westat – $469m, up 0.5%
- IRI – $454m, up 3%
- Arbitron – $364.4m, up 9.4%
- GfK USA – $313m, down 2.2%
- Ipsos – $307.6m, up 4.2%
- Synovate – $245m, down 2.8%
- Maritz Research – $197m, up 5.3%
NB: Rate of growth year to year excludes revenue gains and losses from acquisitions or divestitures.
The Honomichl Top 50 is published by Marketing News, a magazine of the American Marketing Association. Visit www.marketingpower.com for more information.
