Jul. 14--AD SLUMP

Advertising forecaster Magna, a unit of the Interpublic Group of Cos., estimated that second-quarter ad revenue fell 18 percent and revenue will fall 14.5 percent for the year, the worst since the Great Depression. Like many other sectors, the worst is over for U.S. advertising, the company said, though across-the-board growth isn't expected till well into 2011.

THE BOOKSHELF

"$20 Per Gallon," Christopher Steiner (Grand Central Publishing)

If the specter of ever-rising gasoline prices gives you the willies, this author would like to offer you reassurance. Steiner is an engineer turned writer, and he taps into interesting research that indicates we will be better off -- not worse -- shedding weight, living closer to work, riding more trains, using less plastic (made from petrochemicals) and generally living better lives.

WHAT'S HOT

Here are the top -- and bottom -- five industry sectors tracked by Sageworks, which collects private company data. Each is followed by its increase or decrease in sales over the past 12 months.

1. Oil and gas extraction, 30.3%

2. Grain and livestock wholesalers, 21.5%

3. Food manufacturing, 15.2%

4. Data processing and hosting, 13.7%

5. Technical and trade schools, 12.5%

1. Real estate agencies, -15.3%

2. Land subdivision, -13.7%

3. Auto dealers, -9.9%

4. Lumber and construction materials wholesalers, -7.4%

5. Home furnishings stores, -7.2%

LOOKING BACK

Ten years ago in Business, the week of July 14:

--Rhone-Poulenc shareholders approve their merger with Germany's Hoechst AG, parent of Hoechst Marion Roussel, which has its North American headquarters and extensive manufacturing operations in the Kansas City area.

--The Davis Funeral Chapel in Leavenworth is recognized as the state's oldest family business, founded in 1855.

--Kansas is set to fight the U.S. Department of the Interior over plans for a tribal casino in Miami County.

--Sony and Time Warner merge their music club, Columbia House, with online music retailer CDNow.

| Greg Hack, ghack@kcstar.com

-----

To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:IPG, NYSE:SNE, NYSE:TWX,

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.