Ad expense for newspaper websites increased 19.3 percent to US$ 796 million in the second quarter, compared with the same period a year ago, according to preliminary estimates from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), reports MarketingCharts.

The increase is the 13th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth for online newspaper advertising since NAA began reporting online ad spending in 2004.

Newspaper website advertising in 2Q07 accounted for 7 percent of total newspaper ad spending, compared with 5.4 percent in 2Q06, according to the NAA data.

"Newspaper websites continue to have a positive impact on the industry's revenue stream during a time of transition," said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm.

"As newspapers transform themselves into multimedia platforms offering a diverse portfolio of print and digital products, publishers continue to deliver…content that makes newspapers the most trusted source of news and information.

"Advertisers know that newspaper websites are ideal for reaching online users with the most attractive demographics," he added.

Total ad expenditures at newspaper companies were US$ 11.3 billion in the second quarter - an 8.6 percent decrease from 2Q06. Spending for print ads in newspapers totaled US$ 10.5 billion, down 10.2 percent from the year-earlier period.

Sturm chalked up the print-ad revenue decreases to "cyclical swings in the US economy, as well as structural changes in the businesses of major advertisers."

Among the major print components in the second quarter, classified advertising fell 16.4 percent to US$ 3.4 billion. Retail declined 6.4 percent to US$ 5.2 billion, and national was down 7.9 percent, coming in at US$ 1.8 billion.

Within the classified print category in the second quarter, real estate advertising fell 20.7 percent to US$ 966.8 million. Recruitment dropped 18.5 percent to US$ 995.4 million. Automotive was down 19.3 percent to US$ 756.3 million. All other classifieds were down 1.8 percent to US$ 716.1 million.

Quarterly and annual ad spending numbers in their entirety are available at the NAA site.