Impact of Tariffs on US Search Ad Spending

Advertiser Retreat to Safety Will Backstop a Channel in Transition

Search ad spending is generally resilient in the face of significant economic disruption, thanks to its ability to deliver on outcomes. While a substantial decrease in business and consumer confidence would dent spending, we expect search ad spending to post meaningful growth this year, even in a heavy tariff scenario.

Key Question: How will advertisers’ approach to search ad spending change in response to tariffs?

Key Stat: A heavy tariff regime would reduce our 2025 US search ad spending estimate by more than $10 billion.

This report can help you develop media strategy and allocate budget for campaigns (brands and agencies)

In this report, we model three potential outcomes for US search ad spending, based on the severity of tariffs, to show how ad spending could shift.

Here’s what’s in the full report

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Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Search ad spending growth will remain resilient, even under a heavy tariff regime
  3. Search ad spending will be within range of overall digital ad spending
  1. Google and RMNs are best positioned to weather tariffs
  2. Recommendations for brands
  3. Sources
  1. Media Gallery

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authors

Max Willens

Contributors

Eleni Digalaki
Vladimir Hanzlik
Executive Editor and SVP, Content
Penelope Lin
Director, Data Visualization
Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf
Senior Analyst, Digital Advertising & Media
Andrew Spink
Senior Forecasting Analyst
Sakina Thanawala
Copy Editor
Matt Torpey
Senior Chart Editor
Zia Daniell Wigder
Chief Content Officer
Yoram Wurmser
Principal Analyst