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The latest IPA/BDO Bellwether survey published today (12th October 2009) indicates that marketing spend in the UK fell for the eighth quarter running in Q3 but with the smallest reduction in budgets in over a year.

The survey showed that online marketing budgets have returned to growth, though all other budget categories are still on a downward trend.

Amongst those companies surveyed, internet advertising was the only category to see an increase in spend with budgets rising for the first time since Q2 2008:  Internet was up 4.5% and internet search up 5.4%, with sales promotion down 4.5% and direct marketing down 4.7%. ‘All other’ (below-the-line such as  PR, events, sponsorship) seeing the deepest cuts.

The Bellwether Report is researched and published by Markit Economics on behalf of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). It features original data drawn from a panel of around 300 UK marketing professionals and provides a key indicator of the health of the economy. The first report was published on the 17th July 2000.

What are you plans for your marketing budget in this last quarter? Are you increasing the amount you are spending online? And what about your plans for 2010?