AND WE’RE BACK!
While the delta variant has disrupted plans for a return to normalcy this fall, it hasn’t hampered advertising’s resurgence. U.S. ad sales are projected to increase 23% this year, to $278 billion, according to Magna’s latest quarterly forecast. Already, advertising spending has jumped 32% in the year’s first half to hit $130 billion. And Magna anticipates that U.S. spend will grow an additional 12% in 2022, hitting $300 billion for the first time ever, thanks to the midterm elections and a return to normal business conditions across all categories. All of the top advertising categories increased ad spend in the first half, with automotive, finance, restaurants and retail up more than 50% over 2020 numbers. Magna estimates triple-digit growth for travel and entertainment in the second half as Americans venture out to…