2004 AD SPENDING TO INCREASE 9.3% OVER LAST YEAR says Mercedes at AdAge.com in a forecast that U.S. ad spending will grow 9.3% for the year over 2003.

Totals will be helped by a record $1.5 billion in political ad spending and $850 million in ad spending related to the Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

First-half spending will grow by 9.4%, while second-half totals will rise 9.2%, according to the CMR forecast. Mr. Fredericks said the second-half slide is due to a slowdown in Gross Domestic Product growth expected by economists during the fourth quarter, but it will be partly offset by the Olympic and election spending.