Internet advertising grew jumped 14 percent during the first half of 2012—totaling $17 billion—compared to the same period last year, according to Internet Advertising Bureau data released Thursday (Oct. 11). That level of growth, while enviable by traditional media standards, actually represents a slowdown for an industry that saw a 23 percent jump year-over-year during 2011's first half, per the digital advertising trade org.
The IAB's findings hardly constitute "bad news,” though, compared to 2002 and 2009 when digital business actually decreased compared to the prior years. And certainly on the plus side, mobile skyrocketed 95 percent to $1.2 billion compared to 2011’s first half ($636 million).
Other year-over-year IAB stats for the first half of 2012: digital video ads lifted 18 percent to more than $1 billion; display ads were up 4 percent to $5.6 billion; and search dollars increased 19 percent to $8.1 billion, accounting for 48 percent of all online spends.
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