The average reported increase was 36%. Of the 104 companies surveyed, 12.5% reported a year-on-year decrease in revenue, with sales down 23% on average. Around 13% of firms reported no change.

When comparing Q1 performance to the final quarter of 2009, 56% saw improvements in revenue while 24% reported sales declines.

Still, Casro found a huge majority of companies expecting better things from 2010 – 82% versus 6% forecasting worse times ahead.

82% of agencies say the research recovery has already started or will get underway this year, up on the 78% who expressed the same sentiments in Q4 2009.