LONDON: The WPP Group's revenues jumped 26% in the third quarter to nearly $2.4 billion.
Organic revenue growth, which factors out acquisitions and currency changes, was about 5% in the quarter.
The PR and public affairs sector of WPP's business grew 17%, in constant currency, in the quarter.
For the first nine months of 2005, the holding company's organic revenue rose nearly 6% over 2004's levels. Its overall constant currency revenue increased 22%, to $6.75 billion. PR and public affairs revenue in the first three quarters is up more than 15% this year.
WPP's PR firms include Burson-Marsteller, Hill & Knowlton, Ogilvy, and GCI Group.
Publicis Groupe also released its third quarter numbers last week. Revenues were $1.2 billion in the quarter, a 6.2% organic growth rate from 2004. For the first nine months of the year, the holding company posted $3.54 billion in revenue, representing a 6.1% organic growth rate.
Publicis' PR agencies include MS&L, Publicis Dialog, and Rowland Communications.
