2017: A Down Year in the Marketing Economy. Our 25th Annual U.S. Advertising and Marketing Expenditures Report

Publish date

Channel

Total marketing expenditures, including advertising and below-the-line communications are forecast by MyersBizNet to decline 0.3% in 2017, slightly better than our original forecast of -0.6% published last January.  Overall 1.5% growth of 2017 advertising expenditures will not be sufficient to offset projected declines of 1.1% in below-the-line and shopper marketing, according to MyersBizNet.  MyersBizNet had originally projected a greater shift of marketers’ investments from below to above-the-line.  While we accurately forecast total 2017 marketing communications investments at flat to -1.0%, Myers’ had projected 5.9% increases in advertising budgets funded by a 2.4% decline in below-the-line.  Based on our current analysis, 2017 advertising growth will be +1.5% and B-t-L marketing will decline only 1.1%.  Myers tracking of all marketing investments since 2000 has reflected a consistent pattern of declining below-the-line budgets driving digital and above-the-line advertising growth, resulting in a flat overall marketing economy.  Spurred by anticipated political spending plus Olympics and World Cup, marketer expenditures are projected to increase 1.9% in 2018. Scroll down for Jack Myers' commentary.

Digital Captures One-Third of Total Marketing Investments

Contrary to popular perceptions and inaccurate trade reports, digital expenditures are several years away from equaling investments in legacy/linear media and marketing support.  Digital represents just over one-quarter of total marketing investments and slightly more than one-third of advertising investments.  In 2010, digital captured 6.8% of total marketing investments and 10.7% of advertising expenditures, and today represents $155.6 billion compared to $40 billion in 2010.  Legacy/Linear media and marketing is projected to generate $409.8 billion in total 2017 investments, compared to $540.6 billion in 2010.  Total marketing investments have declined from $580 billion in 2010 to $565.4 billion in 2017, primarily reflecting the increased commoditization of the industry and the efficiency of deploying digital search and social media for achieving traditional shopper marketing and below-the-line sales objectives.

MyersBizNet is the only independent non-publicly traded media industry forecaster, with an unequaled record of accuracy.  MyersBizNet is the only economic analyst that covers and reports data on all 28 marketing communications categories, including ten "below-the-line" and 18 traditional "above-the-line" media advertising categories.  Myers economic reports also exclusively separate legacy/linear and digital spending.

MyersBizNet's full 2000-2020 Marketing/Advertising Expenditure Report is being issued later this month and is available to MyersBizNet member companies.

Jack Myers

With over five decades of experience in corporate leadership, B2B research, management insights, and technological trends, Jack Myers is a visionary leader and a trusted source for guidance and preparation as generative AI and machine intelligence dominates … read more

STAY IN THE KNOW WITH MORE FROM MEDIAVILLAGE