Google Inc`s U.S. advertising revenue will drop 5.3per cent as brands pare spending during the coronavirus pandemic, the first decline since 2008 when the research firm began estimating the Alphabet Inc unit`s ad revenues, according to an eMarketer report.

Report added, “The decline for the world`s largest digital advertising company is primarily due to its heavy reliance on travel companies that advertise in Google searches, which has been the hardest-hit industry during the pandemic.”

Forecast showcase, how the health crisis has could hurt even the largest advertising platforms, as ad spending typically depends on economic conditions and demand from consumers.

Google had been expected to grow its US ad revenue by almost 13%, according to eMarketer`s first-quarter forecast which did not account for the pandemic.

According to the research firm, “Facebook Inc., the second-largest digital ad company, is expected to increase its US ad revenue by nearly 5% this year, far less than the 26% growth in 2019.”