Global budgets registered a 48 on the index, where 50 and above indicates that marketing spend is generally improving. In August, the reading was 46.1 – meaning September was less worse, if not an actual improvement.

Only the Americas reported an expansion of marketing budgets this month, however trading conditions improved across the board, Warc said. Staffing levels also remained positive month on month, albeit with the index score down slightly on August’s.