The global emergence of online advertising and the growth of advertising in developing countries has created a global ad spending climate that "remains positive despite economic uncertainties," including successive hurricane strikes against the southern shores of the U.S., according to ZenithOptimedia Group quarterly report, writes MediaPost. The report anticipates worldwide ad growth will rise 6.2 percent in 2006, up from the firm's previous-quarter prediction of 6.1 percent. Ad spending in 2007 is projected to increase 6.1 percent, up from the previous forecast of 5.8 percent.

That growth will be coming largely from developing nations, especially Russia, India and China, as well as the oil-rich Arabian region, according to Zenith.

Though the internet is forecast to account for 4.3 percent of worldwide ad spending this year, it is expected to drive 16 percent of global advertising growth, according to the report, which foresees the world's ad economy growing 5.2 percent - or a half point more than the 4.7 percent rate ZenithOptimedia projected in its previous quarterly report (due in part to inflation).