NEWS3 December 2014

UK ad spend expected to show 6.3% increase in 2014

UK — GroupM has predicted a 6.3% increase in UK ad spend for 2014, the fastest growth of any major, mature economy.

The predicted rise puts the UK ahead of the 4% global ad investment growth GroupM predicts for 2014.

The prediction comes as part of a new GroupM — WPP’s global media investment management corporation — report: This Year, Next Year: UK Media and Marketing Forecasts. The report outlines that UK ad spend is expected to reach a total of £14.9bn in 2014, up from £14bn in 2013.

“Advertising and the wider UK economy are growing well, but are vulnerable to private debt and public austerity at home, and external problems of weak demand, especially in the Eurozone,” said GroupM Futures director Adam Smith, who prepared the report. “Low UK wage growth remains a constraint, ameliorated for now by cheaper oil and price competition.”

The full report can be downloaded here.