Final figures are expected shortly from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The estimates were released this week by the World Advertising Research Center, showing that internet spending will be higher than £1 billion for the first time.
The figures also show that last year's advertising expenditure on radio, press, cinema and direct mail was down on 2004's. Outdoor advertising was the sector with the second highest growth – but at 5.8%, it was far behind the internet's growth. Television advertising grew 3.6% to £4 billion.
In the US, the IAB reported earlier this month that internet advertising revenues for 2005 are estimated to exceed $12.5 billion, a 30% increase over the previous revenue record of $9.6 billion in 2004.