Ad spend: `Real estate, telecom top

New Delhi: The real estate and telecom sectors witnessed highest increase in advertisement spend proportionate to sales between financial year 2000 and 2006, according to a study conducted by industry chamber Assocham. The real estate including construction and telecom firms increased their advertising budgets as a ratio of their sales by an annual 36 per cent and 21 per cent in the period. The next big spenders are white goods manufacturers, liquor, passenger and multi-utility vehicles companies. The maximum rise among these was accounted for by white goods producers with 20 per cent increase, followed by growth of 10 per cent in liquor industry and 9.5 per cent in passenger car companies.