Internet advertising revenues in the United States jumped 22 percent in 2011 to a record $31 billion, amid sizzling growth in the fledgling mobile Web space, industry figures showed Wednesday.
The 2011 figures were up sharply from 2010 - already a record level of $26 billion - following a first-ever decline in 2009, the Internet Advertising Bureau said in a report prepared by consultants PwC.
Fourth quarter ad revenues for 2011 hit a best-ever at $9 billion, and were up 15 percent increase over the third quarter 2011. Mobile experienced the fastest growth of all categories, up 149 percent to $1.6 billion in 2011 from $600 million in 2010.
Digital video ads, a component of display-related advertising, saw a 29 percent increase year-over-year to $1.8 billion.
Search revenues accounted for the biggest share in 2011, $14.8 billion, up almost 27 percent for the year. Another big category, Internet display ads, accounted for $11.1 billion in revenue, an increase of 35 percent.
Retail advertisers continue to represent the largest category of Internet ad spending, accounting for 22 percent in 2011, or $7.1 billion, compared with 21 percent in 2010, the report showed.