Social networks drive display ad growth -IAB Europe

LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - Social networking, mobile Internet and video are driving a resurgence in online display advertising in Europe, with the sector recording 21.3 percent growth in 2010, according to figures from IAB Europe.

Search advertising, which has been the catalyst of online growth in recent years, fell behind growth in display last year with a 15.1 percent increase, IAB Europe said.

However, search remained the largest category, with 45 percent of total advertising spend compared with 33 percent for display and 22 percent for classified and directories, it said.

Total online advertising spend was 17.7 billion euros ($25.9 billion) in 2010, compared with 15.3 billion euros in 2009, it said.

IAB Europe, a federation of national interactive advertising bureaux, measured ad spending in 25 European markets. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Will Waterman) ($1=.6825 Euro)