New York, NY (October 9, 2003) Total magazine advertising revenue for September 2003 increased 6.3% compared to September of last year, closing at $1,941,056,712, according to Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). Ad pages for September totaled 23,952.17, down 4.5% from last year.  Year-to-date, advertising revenue closed at $12,873,649,069, an increase of 9.0%, and ad pages were 162,155.15, up 0.3% from last year.   “We are heartened to see continued strength in major ad categories, most notably, Drugs & Remedies, with both pages and revenue up for 21 straight months, followed by Automotive and Toiletries & Cosmetics, up for 16 straight months,” stated Ellen Oppenheim, Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, MPA.  “However, several categories – particularly Financial, Insurance & Real Estate and Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts – were affected by continued economic turmoil, slow employment recovery and weakened consumer confidence, resulting in an overall decrease in ad pages.”   September 2003 vs. 2002 Eight of the 12 major advertising categories experienced growth in ad revenue over September 2002, while four major categories recorded ad page increases. Apparel & Accessories, Automotive, Drugs & Remedies, and Toiletries & Cosmetics posted both revenue and page gains in September 2003. Direct Response; Financial, Insurance & Real Estate; and Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts recorded the declines in both revenues and pages. (Twelve categories are the most significant contributors to PIB revenue, comprising more than 85% of total advertising spending.) January – September 2003 vs. 2002 Nine of the 12 major advertising categories sustained dollar gains for the year-to-date comparison, while five categories saw growth in ad pages. Ad page and revenue increases were seen in Apparel & Accessories, Automotive, Drugs & Remedies, Home Furnishings & Supplies and Toiletries & Cosmetics. Direct Response; Financial, Insurance & Real Estate; and Public Transportation, Hotels & Resorts experienced declines in both dollars and pages, year-to-date.