Nielsen report predicts increased global ad sales; With spending sluggish in industrial nations,...

A slight uptick in ad spending in the world's developed countries, combined with surprisingly strong growth in emerging markets, should result in an overall global ad spending gain of about 2% this year, according to a new study by Nielsen Media Research International.

Ad spending in the U.S. alone is also expected to increase about 2%, after dropping 7% in 2001. The U.S. still ranked No. 1 worldwide last year, at $143 billion.

Ian Garland, managing director of product marketing and development for Nielsen Media Research International, said there's more bull