Total magazine rate-card-reported advertising revenue for the month of November increased 4.4% compared to November of last year, closing at $2,353,453,885, according to Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). Ad pages totaled 25,076.49, down 1% from November 2004. Year-to-date, PIB revenue closed at $20,894,222,326, an increase of 6.9% from the same period last year, with ad pages totaling 220,667.67, a 0.2% gain.

November 2005 vs. 2004
Seven major advertising categories increased their PIB revenue and pages over last year. Double-digit gains were seen in Drugs & Remedies (+39.9% PIB revenue and +30.2% pages) and Retail (+18.4% PIB revenue and +16.2% pages). Drugs & Remedies posted its fourth month of revenue growth in November. Other gainers included Media & Advertising; Apparel & Accessories; Direct Response; Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts; and Financial, Insurance & Real Estate.

January - November 2005 vs. 2004
Year-to-date, eight of the 12 major advertising categories generated increases in PIB revenue and pages: Drugs & Remedies; Financial, Insurance & Real Estate; Media & Advertising; Direct Response; Toiletries & Cosmetics; Food & Food Products; Retail; and Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts. Double-digit PIB revenue and page growth was recorded by the Financial, Insurance & Real Estate.

"Drugs & Remedies category continued its strong performance, due to growth across the board-from ads for pharmaceutical houses to medicines and proprietary remedies," stated Ellen Oppenheim, Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, Magazine Publishers of America. "We're also pleased to see the second straight month of Retail growth, driven by mass market stores. Automotive remains soft, reflecting category dynamics."