From the IAB release on first quarter 2010:
Internet advertising revenues in the U.S. hit $5.9 billion for the first quarter of 2010, representing a 7.5 percent increase over the same period in 2009, according to the numbers released today by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This marks the highest first-quarter revenue level ever for the industry.
You already knew this if you read my Predictions for 2010, #9.
Internet marketing has come into its own as an acceptable and highly profitable form of advertisement. Contextual advertising, affiliate marketing, behavioral targeting and Email advertising (frequently abused method) are some of the most popular methods of Internet advertising. The size of your budget, the habits of your target user, and the effectiveness of each method are taken into consideration when choosing your method of Internet advertising.