Direct marketing will grow in expenditures, sales, ROI and employment through 2007, according to the DMA's annual report, The Power of Direct Marketing.

The DMA said the direct marketing industry's growth will help soften the effects of a cooling economy, writes BtoB Online (via MediaBuyerPlanner). Total U.S. sales will grow 3.8 percent in 2007, whereas direct marketing-driven sales will grow 6.5 percent, according to the DMA.

In another report, 2006 Response Rate Trends, the DMA says telephone and email produced the highest response rates - 2.6 and 2.45, respectively - among direct media in terms of leads, reports BtoB.