Archive · 8 Dec 2025
Global Ad Spending to Surge in 2025
A company called WPP Media says that advertising spending around the world will grow more than they thought before.
In 2025, they expect ads to make $1.14 trillion, which is 8.8% more than last year.
They thought it would only grow by 6%, but things changed.
Some businesses moved their imports before new taxes started, and AI helped save money that was used for ads.
Also, stores and big shops will make more money from ads than TV for the first time.
TV ads will only grow a little bit.
Some of the tax effects were delayed and will be felt in 2026.
Global ad revenue excluding U.S. political advertising will grow 8.8% in 2025 to $1.14 trillion, up from a 6% forecast in June.
Worldwide advertising growth for 2026 is expected to be 7.1%, revised from 6.1% in June.
Marketers mitigated tariff impacts by adjusting import timings, managing inventories, and absorbing costs.
AI investment boosted ad spending as businesses redirected savings into new ad buys and new AI companies became advertisers.
Global retail media revenue will surpass TV advertising revenue in 2025, growing 11.3% to $174.2 billion.
- Who
- WPP Media, global advertisers, AI sector
- What
- Revised forecast for global ad spending growth in 2025
- When
- 2025 and 2026
- Where
- Global
- Why
- Lower impact of tariffs, AI investment, and growth in retail media
- Expected Growth (2025)
- 8.8%
- Previous Forecast (June 2024)
- 6%
- Global Ad Growth (2026)
- 7.1%
- Retail Media Growth (2025)
- 11.3%
- TV Ad Spending Growth (2025)
- 0.6%
