Revenue from advertising placed in national newspapers reached £76 million over the fivemonth period of April to August, 1997, an increase of 27 per over the same period last year, according to Advertising Statistics Ireland Ltd (ASI). In volume terms 957,000 column inches of display advertising was monitored between April and August 1997, up 19 per cent on the corresponding period of last year.

ASI, an agency which monitors national press advertising, also reported yesterday that revenue from advertising placed in national newspapers reached £93 million in the six-month period April-September, 1997. Referring to the traditionally quiet summer period, the director of the ASI, Mr Kevin McSharry, said: "There has been unprecedented growth this year."