Growth in global advertising market in 2013 - Magna Global/Mediabrands, which is an authority on media value and market conditions at global level, forecasts growth of 3.1% in world advertising revenue in 2013. The June 2012 forecasts were revised downwards due to the slowdown in economic growth in Europe and the United States, as well as the cautious marketing spending noted in many territories in the second half of the year. The global advertising market reached $495 billion in 2012, in other words +3.8% more than in 2011. The United States remains the biggest market with $153 billion in advertising revenue (+4% in relation to 2011). Japan, China, Germany and the United Kingdom make up the rest of the top five. With no major event or boost for next year, 2013 will see a much more modest growth in revenue in the United States, in other words +0.6% or +2.6%. In Europe, the countries of western Europe continue to experience difficult economic conditions. Advertising revenue fell by -2.8% in 2012, and at least another year of decline is shaping up for 2013 (-0.1%). All of southern Europe recorded slumps last year - Greece, Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. The rate of decline ranges from a slight drop in France (-2.5%) to a double digit slump in Italy, Spain and, of course, Greece (-28%). Other markets in western and northern Europe also fell (Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland). Unlike the rest of the region, the two biggest European markets - Germany and the United Kingdom - managed growth of 0.5% and 2.2% respectively. In central and eastern Europe, the fall in most markets (Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic) was compensated by strong growth in Russia (+10.4%) and in Turkey (+8.4%). As a result, advertising revenue in eastern Europe increased by +5.5% in total. In 2013, revenue will again decrease in southern Europe (-4.3%), although Germany and the United Kingdom will show slight growth. In contrast, growth in central and eastern Europe will rise to +7%. In Latin America, Magna Global forecasts growth of 11.9% in 2013 (as opposed to +13% in 2012) and it forecasts growth of +4.8% in Asia Pacific (+5.5% in 2012). In the BRICS countries, China and India are expected to return to double digit growth by 2013-2014, while growth in Russia remains solid. Brazil will begin to profit from 2013 onwards from the advertising effects of the football World Cup 2014. Lastly, after four consecutive years of decline, made worse by the impact of the 2011 tsunami, the Japanese market recovered more strongly than predicted in 2012 (+4.1%). Advertising revenue in Australia dipped slightly (-0.5%). (IL/transl.fl)