The amount of money spent on internet advertising in the US has broken through the $16bn barrier, figures show.
The online advertising take surged to $16.8m in 2006, a 34 per cent rise on the previous year's $12.5bn figure.
Fourth-quarter spending on web advertising came in at $4.8bn, up 32 per cent on the same period in 2005.
The figures were complied by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).
Online ad revenue in the US has more than doubled from $7.3bn in 2003, the IAB said in their report.
David Silverman, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Results for 2006 confirm a very healthy environment for online advertising.
"All signs point to a steady increase in the level of spend by traditional advertisers that are using online advertising as an important part of their media mix."
IAB chief executive and president Randall Rothenberg added: "The continued growth in interactive advertising is clearly based on marketers' recognition that they connect with consumers most effectively through interactive media.
"The increase underscores marketers' understanding that interactive advertising can engage consumers, build brands and sell products and services."
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