New York, NY (April 18, 2006)—Total magazine rate-card-reported advertising revenue for the month of March increased 5.0% compared to the same month last year, closing at $2,094,397,909, according to Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). Ad pages totaled 21,826.08, up 0.2% from March 2005. Year-to-date, PIB revenue closed at $4,924,042,818, an increase of 4.2% over the same period in 2005, with ad pages totaling 51,381.90, a 0.4% gain. March 2006 vs. 2005 (Click here for Magazine Totals) Seven of 12 major advertising categories posted PIB revenue and page increases over March 2005. Three categories recorded double-digit PIB revenue and page growth: Retail; Toiletries & Cosmetics; and Technology. Other categories that posted PIB revenue and page gains included Automotive; Drugs & Remedies; Home Furnishings & Supplies; and Financial, Insurance & Real Estate. January – March 2006 vs. 2005 (Click here for Magazine Totals) In the first quarter of 2006, the Drugs & Remedies and Retail categories generated double-digit increases in PIB revenue and pages. Double-digit PIB revenue growth was also recorded by Toiletries & Cosmetics and Technology, while Toiletries & Cosmetics; Financial, Insurance & Real Estate; and Technology posted gains in ad pages year-to-date. “In the first quarter, magazines benefited from robust activity in Drugs & Remedies; Financial, Insurance & Real Estate; and Technology—categories that showed consistent strength month-to-month,” noted Ellen Oppenheim, EVP/Chief Marketing Officer, Magazine Publishers of America. “We were heartened to see that Automotive was up 8% in pages in March after experiencing some softness in past months.”