Nielsen: Global ad spending up 2.4 percent in Q2

The slowdown that hit the U.S. ad economy during second quarter seemed to wallop the rest of the world as well.

Ad spending was up 2.4 percent worldwide during the April to June period, with emerging markets pacing much of that growth, according to the latest report from Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse.

Middle East and Africa advertising grew at a torrid 19.6 percent rate over the year-ago period, and Latin American advertising was up 4.9 percent.

Europe struggled as the debt crisis continued to loom. Though ad spending grew in the UK, Turkey and Norway, overall spending in Europe was down 3.8 percent, with major declines in Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal.

U.S. ad spending was up 2.4 percent, slower than previous quarters. Canada fell 2 percent and Mexico was also down.

But the quarter did end on a slightly higher note. June ad spending rose 3.1 percent worldwide.

Total second-quarter ad spending was $139 billion, and total first-half spending was $266 billion.
 

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