Marketplace®

Daily business news and economic stories

Political ad spending hikes prices, cuts inventory

If you're trying to buy a TV ad in a swing state, you may need to wait a while.

Michael McLean sets up to play his guitar for money near a billboard showing a picture of Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton advertising the Democratic Presidential debate at the Wynn Las Vegas resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
 
Michael McLean sets up to play his guitar for money near a billboard showing a picture of Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton advertising the Democratic Presidential debate at the Wynn Las Vegas resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.   
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Chances are good, especially if you live in a swing state, that you’re being bombarded by political ads. Between mid-September and mid-October alone, 117,000 presidential ads aired on television, according to the Wesleyan Media Project. This political ad-buying frenzy makes it a tough market for those who want to buy ad space. Prices have gone up substantially these past few weeks and there isn’t much inventory out there. So some businesses are holding off on advertising until after the election, while others are turning to more affordable digital options.

Related Topics