According to Zenith Optimedia, global ad spending will grow by 4.7% next year to reach a total of $486 billion, more than a full percentage point higher than the 3.5% growth the agency now says to expect for full-year 2011. WPP’s GroupM further confirmed Zenith Optimedia's predictions for growth in the coming year by reporting a potential 6.4% increase in global ad spending that will reach a total of $522 billion.

GroupM announced today the launch of Xaxis, a global audience buying company that combines all of the demand-side data and technology resources of WPP (NASDAQ:WPPGY) and the trading leverage of the GroupM agencies into a single comprehensive resource.