Overall advertising spending in the print media in 1998 was down $2.6 million,

or 21%, compared to 1997, according to a survey conducted by IMIC.Total ad spending

for print and television fell from an estimated $18.4 million in 1997 to $18.3 million

in 1998, a decrease of less than one percent and the first drop in growth since IMIC

monitoring began in 1994. The largest advertising spenders continue to be cigarette

distributors with an estimated $3.9 million in expenditures, followed by distributors

of beer, petroleum and telecommunications firms.