US Advertising Sales to Grow by 1.8% This Year, MagnaGlobal Forecasts

US advertising sales will increase 1.8 percent in 2011, less than last year’s 3.2 percent, reflecting a slow recovery in the overall economy, according to MagnaGlobal, a unit of Interpublic Group. Excluding 2010 spending for the Olympic Games and political races, sales this year will rise 3.1 percent. Large advertisers will continue to shift spending to cable television networks from broadcast channels during the year, MagnaGlobal said. Cable spending will increase 10.8 percent, compared with 2.4 percent growth for broadcast networks.