Summary
Marketers in all global regions will continue to see good conditions for business, according to the headline metric of May's Global Marketing Index, which combines responses for marketing budgets, trading conditions and staffing levels. Other standout findings include the rise of global marketing budgets for the fifth consecutive month, especially in The Americas and Asia Pacific, a slight fall back in marketing budgets in Europe, and a sustained rise in staffing levels for all regions.

Summary
April's Global Marketing Index shows the headline GMI metric - combining responses for budgets, trading conditions and staff levels - once again performing strongly in all regions. Among the other standout findings are that global marketing budgets rose for the fourth consecutive month, that trading conditions in Europe were more positive than those in Asia Pacific for the first time, and that staffing levels continue to rise rapidly in all regions.

Summary
March's Global Marketing Index shows an increase in marketing budgets for all of the regions measured for the month, with European marketing budgets showing a net rise for the first time since April 2012. Among the other standout findings are and improvement in the headline GMI metric for the fifth consecutive month, the most positive result for trading conditions for 12 months, and rapid increases in staffing levels for all regions.

Summary
A report on Warc's adspend and economic forecasts for the years ahead. The global advertising sector will expand in 2013, with overall expenditure rising by 4% year-on-year. In 2012, adspend increased by an estimated 3.9% year-on-year. Forecasters agree that the global economy will continue to grow by 3.2% over 2013. The report notes regional trends in marketer sentiment and adspend. Fast-growth nations in the global south, whether from Asia-Pacific, MENA and Latin America, are forecast quicker GDP and adspend growth than that of mature markets, with Europe predicted to be the slowest-growing region. That said, overall global growth is expected to quicken in 2014, compared to the previous two years.

Summary
February's Global Marketing Index shows headline growth across all regions. The outlook across the board is positive with the highest global trading conditions value since April 2012 and a rise in staffing levels across the regions. Global marketing budgets have also increased, with marketing budgets in Asia Pacific showing growth for the first time since October 2012.

Summary
This paper provides a perspective on traditional budgeting approaches and managerial processes in the midst of the severe economic downturn during May 2009, in the United States. Specifically, it examines the extent to which various company, brand and organisational factors are related to the level of decentralisation in the budgeting for advertising and promotion. Also, the influences of the level of decentralisation in the budgeting on the marketing budget size and the advertising-to-promotion ratio were examined. It appeared that the company size, company profitability, brand equity, brand price, brand type and the influences of the marketing and the finance departments were associated with the level of decentralisation in the budgeting, which, in turn, had significant impact on the actual budget size and allocation

Summary
January's Global Marketing Index shows growth in the headline GMI metric for all global regions in January. Outlook for global trading conditions also improved, while staffing levels increased across the board. However, despite these improving conditions, marketers in Asia Pacific and Europe continue to cut budgets.

Summary
December's Global Marketing Index results show that the outlook for global trading conditions rose to its highest level since May 2012. Staffing levels also showed growth in all regions measured for the index. But marketing budgets continued to be cut in both Asia Pacific and Europe, marketers in the Americas recorded no change to budgets.

Summary
Havas Media's Global Research team applied and adapted a long-standing financial methodology to help frame marketing strategies in financial terms and gain the confidence of clients' chief financial officers. It originates from a 'risk hedging' theory, used more commonly in stock markets, that argues that marketers should statistically quantify the risks to the company of different marketing budget levels. This article shows how Havas Media's analysis of 120 FMCG brands from 11 different categories in a medium-scaled European market enabled it to develop its Risk Hedging tool. It illustrates, using Spanish milk brands, how marketing managers can present in clear financial terms, a case for clear advertising investment that takes into account and statistically quantifies the risks of sales dropping below acceptable limits.

Summary
November's Global Marketing Index results show that budgets were cut in Asia Pacific and Europe and remain static in the Americas. Elsewhere, trading conditions improved worldwide, staffing levels rose everywhere but Europe, and the headline GMI reading showed improvement in the Americas and Asia Pacific but remained negative in Europe.