MediaPost reports that prices for paid search listings rose nine percent in March to an average of $1.75 a click, according to the Fathom Online Keyword Price Index. The average price of keywords had fallen in the first two months of 2005 after rising from September through the holidays, but now exceeds December's $1.70.

None of the categories tracked by Fathom Online fell last month. Telecom/wireless terms gained the most ground, growing by 23 percent to 95 cents a click. Prices for automobile-related keywords rose 11 percent to $1.42, and terms related to retail increased by 11 percent to 51 cents per click.

Also showing large gains was finance and investing, which saw average keyword prices rise 13 percent to $1.86—the highest since September.