Internet publishing growth

Internet publishing and broadcasting saw 9.8% growth in revenue between 2008 and 2009 to $19.5 billion, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009 Service Annual Survey.

During the same period, revenues for newspaper and periodical publishers, however, declined by 17.3% and 13.2%, respectively, to $36.3 billion and $39.1 billion.

According to the Census press release, the Service Annual Survey provides the most comprehensive national data available annually on service activity in the U.S. For the first time, starting in 2009, the survey was expanded to collect data for all service industries, capturing 55% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Previously, the survey accounted for only 30% of GDP.

The expansion includes new data for sectors such as utilities and education services, and greater detail for those sectors previously covered by the survey. Prior to the Service Annual Survey, the economic census — conducted every five years — was the only way to collect data for all service industries.

OTHER SURVEY INFO
• Cable and subscription programming as well as wireless telecommunications carriers saw increases in revenue of 4% and 2.3%, respectively, to $51.6 billion and $185.6 billion, while television broadcast revenues and wired telecommunications carriers declined by 12.7% and 6.6%, respectively, to $31.4 billion and $172.1 billion.

• The expanded finance and insurance sector had $3.3 trillion in revenues in 2009.

• The utilities sector, entirely new to the survey, showed estimated revenues of $455.9 billion.

• Revenues for the transportation and warehousing sector — including several new subsectors — totaled $608.9 billion. The new subsectors include air transportation, water transportation, transit and ground transportation, pipeline transportation, scenic and sightseeing transportation and support activities for transportation.

• Two subsectors added to the real estate and rental and leasing sector brought total revenues to $346.4 billion. Subsector additions were real estate and lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets.

• Revenues for the educational services sector, also entirely new to the survey, showed total revenues of $42.9 billion. Educational services include such items as business schools, computer training, technical and trade schools, language schools, driving schools and educational support services. The survey does not include data from elementary and secondary schools, junior colleges and colleges, universities and professional schools.