Market forecasts

Challenging times as UK unemployment rises to 8.4%

The UK's official unemployment figure has risen to 2.68 million in the three months to November, or 8.4% of the population, representing the highest level in 17 years, according to new figures today.

Premier Foods vows to double spend behind 'power brands'

Premier Foods, the company behind Hovis, Mr Kipling and Ambrosia, has committed to doubling its annual marketing spend across its eight key brands, at the same time as cutting costs and disposing of non-core businesses.

Thorntons issues fresh profit warning

Thorntons, the troubled chocolate maker, has today ( 21 December) issued a fresh profit warning, citing poor customer confidence and rivals' promotions as hitting its performance.

Newspaper woes to dent UK adspend, predicts GroupM

WPP media buying operation GroupM has reduced its forecast for growth in UK adspend for this year from 1.5% to 0.7%, after projecting larger declines for newspapers.

ZenithOptimedia upgrades UK advertising outlook for 2011

ZenithOptimedia has upgraded its UK advertising forecasts for 2011 after a stronger than expected fourth quarter for the media, fuelled by late internet and radio spend.

Media agencies reduce global adspend forecasts

GroupM and Magna Global have softened their global adspend forecasts for 2012, to 6.4% and 5% respectively.

ZenithOptimedia predicts slow 2012 for Western Europe

The Western Europe ad market will grow just 2% next year despite the stimulus of the Olympics and the European Championships, but global adspend will climb 4.7%.

Thomas Cook set to close 200 high-street shops

Thomas Cook is set to shut 200 of its high-street stores, in a move expected to be part of a wider review of the UK business and its brand portfolio.

Nintendo to make first ever loss following 3DS flop

Nintendo is predicting its first ever annual loss in its current financial year as it struggles to cope with the growing popularity of games on smartphones and tablets.

ZenithOptimedia revises UK adspend growth forecast

Growth in UK adspend will be significantly lower in 2011 than forecast, according to ZenithOptimedia.

Aegis 'considering between 50 and 60 acquisitions', says Buhlmann

Aegis Group is looking for "good quality" digital businesses in the UK as part of a global acquisition drive following the sale of market research firm Synovate, according to chief executive Jerry Buhlmann.

TV ad revenue predicted to increase in Q4

TV advertising revenue is expected to increase by 2 per cent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to media agency sources.

Carat downgrades ad spend growth forecasts for 2011

Aegis Media's Carat has downgraded its global and Western European advertising forecasts today, citing caution sparked by "global macro-economic factors".

Barb to measure web TV viewing

Barb is to start measuring TV viewing on PCs, laptops and tablet computers this year, following the introduction of a web TV-viewing meter to UK households.