Marketers downbeat over budgets

Marketers around the world remain largely pessimistic over their budget levels, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index.

Based on data from a panel of 1,225 executives, the reading for marketers' budgetary expectations came in at 46 points in November, on a scale where totals below 50 points reflect reducing spend, and figures above this level indicate increasing spend.

This marked a decline from 48.8 points in October, and constituted the lowest such score since November 2011, when ratings hit 43.9 points.

Upon discussing the regional picture, the study showed that respondents from the Americas also delivered the worst prognosis in 13 months, on a neutral 50 points (= no change).

The comparable reading for Asia Pacific was 46.8 points, versus 51 points in October. In Europe, these values were 42.6 points and 44.1 points respectively.

Suzy Young, Warc's data editor, said: "Following President Obama's re-election, attention has once again focused on the global economic situation.