Online ad spending in the U.S. grew by 23% to just over $32 billion last year. This year eMarketer forecasts it will grow slightly more, 23.3%, to $39.5 billion.

Meanwhile eMarketer forecasts a 6.1% drop in magazine and newspaper print ad spending bringing the 2012 total to $33.8 billion.

This double-digit growth is set to continue in the U.S. until at least 2014 reaching $53 billion after which it drops down to single-digit growth. By 2016 online ad spend in the U.S. is set to reach $62 billion.

"Advertisers' comfort level with integrated marketing is greater than ever, and this is helping more advertisers - and more large brands - put a greater share of dollars online," said David Hallerman, eMarketer principal analyst.

Total ad spending is also forecast to grow despite worries about the economy. Total ad spending in the U.S. is expected to rise by 6.7% this year, to $169.5 billion, boosted by the U.S. elections and the Olympics in London. That's almost double the growth seen in 2011 when overall ad spend grew 3.4%, to $158.9 billion.

About The Author:

Helen Leggatt is a British freelance writer living in New Zealand. She entered the marketing industry in the early 1990's just as the internet was beginning to be seen as a useful marketing tool. Helen was an early adopter of online and honed her skills managing blue chip accounts for Direct Marketing agencies, such as WWAV Rapp Collins, in the UK and Asia. Since 1999 Helen has operated as a freelance marketing consultant and after moving to New Zealand in 2004 is now concentrating on writing and reporting for the e-business community. Feel free to contact Helen at [email protected] if you have a story you'd like to see covered by Bizreport, particularly in the areas of viral marketing and e-commerce.