Early SMI – July ad spend continues slow climb out of COVID-19 hole

Media agency bookings for July in Australia indicate an improving trend since the depth of the economic fallout from COVID-19, say industry insiders.

Subscriber-only confidential numbers from SMI (Standard Media Index) indicate July will be an improvement over June’s 35.7% fall and the record breaking 40.4% drop in May.

The early numbers, not yet finalised for the month, show agency bookings down about one-third in July but this number will improve with the inclusion of late digital bookings data.

Forward booking data indicates August will record a more modest fall again, continuing the trend of improvement.