Search ad firm Efficient Frontier's search industry spending index is down for Q4 last year, a first in the index's several-year run, reports the Wall Street Journal (via IAB Smartbrief). Efficient Frontier's report shows spending slowed 8 percent between October and December (compared to the same period last year).
This despite recent comScore numbers announcing US searches went up 3 percent to 12.7 billion in December.
The Journal reminds us that eMarketer still expects search to grow about 14 percent in 2009.
All eyes on Google now as fourth quarter numbers are due Thursday. Analysts expect double-digit revenue growth.
