FROM TRADITIONAL LOBBYING TO COMMUNICATIONS AND PR

Of $3.4 billion in contracts reported by the 144 trade groups in the United States from 2008 through 2012, more than $1.2 billion, or 37 percent, went toward advertising, public relations and marketing services, more than any other category. The second-highest total, $682.2 million, or 20 percent of the total, was directed toward legal, lobbying and government affairs. By industry sector, the biggest clients of PR, marketing and ad services were energy and natural resources associations.