New York - May 21, 2010 - Saying it's a sign reflecting growing signs that the U.S. economy is back, the Radio Advertising Bureau says that radio has delivered its best results in quarter-to-quarter revenue comparisons since 1Q2007 with a 6 percent overall increase to $3.687 billion. The RAB says this gain is the highest posted in nearly a decade (since 3Q2000, which was an 8 percent increase).

The eastern region outpaced the rest of the nation in ad spending gains for Q1, up 12.7 percent, followed by the southwest and central regions, up 9.7 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively. Spending is up but trails nationwide growth in the west (4.5 percent) and south (3.5 percent).

Read the full report at the RAB website.

*Local, National, Digital and Off-Air revenues are based on a pool of more than 100 markets as reported by the accounting firm of Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. and extrapolated to the entire U.S. Digital Revenue is comprised from activity generated by websites, internet/web streaming and HD Radio including HD2 and HD3 stations. Network revenue includes the top five radio network companies. Non-Spot data has been collected and verified since January 2002, and reported since September 2004.