Business information services will post the highest growth for second consecutive year.

According to the just-released Veronis Suhler Stevenson 2004 Communications Industry Forecast & Report, business information services is the largest in its sector and will post the highest growth for the second consecutive year at 6.5 percent. It is trailed slightly by 6.4 percent upside in television program spending and 4.4 percent expansion in professional and educational and training media.

That puts publishers who produce newsletters and specialized information and training materials in both the highest and the third highest growth positions.

The VSS report, whose forecast covers 2003 to 2008, also states: "Institutional end-user spending, which include expenditures on communications information services by corporations, government and educational institutions, is forecast to grow every year of the forecast period and outpace the GDP expansion in each of the years from 2004 to 2008....

"The key trends of strong economic expansion, solid corporate profit growth, increased institutional budgets and innovations in the development, delivery and use of information will drive this sector's growth during the forecast period."

For more information on the VSS Communications Industry Forecast & Report, visit www.vss.com. The 2004 edition sells for $1,995. Veronis Suhler Stevenson, 350 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022, 212-935-4990, fax [phone].