New York - U.S. Internet advertising revenues for the first half of 2008 totaled $11.5 billion, an increase of 15.2% from the same period a year ago, according to a report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Revenues for the second quarter were up 12.8% over the same period of 2007, but showed a slight decline of 0.3% from the first quarter.

"Interactive advertising continues to demonstrate year over year growth as marketers and consumers increase their embrace of digital media," said Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB.

"The essentially flat performance we see quarter to quarter reflects in part cyclical advertising trends. Compared to the trajectory in other media and in the general economy, interactive has outperformed because it delivers a level of accountability unmatched by any other advertising medium."

Search advertising-related revenues totaled nearly $5.1 billion for the first half of 2008, up 24% from the same period a year ago, while display ad revenues were $3.8 billion, a 19% increase on last year.

(Disclosure: PricewaterhouseCoopers is a sponsor of Digital Media Wire.)

Related Links:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20081007006105/en

http://www.iab.net/media/file/IAB_PWC_2008_6m.pdf (PDF)