Buoyant marketing activity was recorded in each region: 55.8 in Europe, 59.6 in the Asia-Pacific area and 59.1 in the Americas. However, in Europe there was a slowdown in the growth rate.

The GMI is complied by World Economics and its chief executive, Ed Jones, said: “The headline Global Marketing Index reading for February indicates that marketers are seeing strong business activity and showing solid growth in all regions with a notable acceleration reported in the Americas. The only media increasing their share of advertising budgets in all regions were digital and mobile, although on a global basis, TV expenditure rose slightly, but only as a result of a rise in the resources allocated to the medium in Europe. Marketing departments around the world are still taking on more new staff to meet growing business demands.”