New York—Total magazine rate-card-reported ad revenue for the first quarter rose 6.9% compared with the same period last year, closing at $5.2 billion, according to figures released Tuesday by the Publishers Information Bureau. Ad pages were up 1% for the quarter.

Ten of the 12 ad categories tracked by PIB posted ad revenue gains, including drugs & remedies (up 20.4%); retail (up 19.5%); and food and food products (up 11.7%). Ad categories that posted revenue declines included home furnishings and supplies (down 14%); and financial, insurance and real estate (down 10%).

It was a mixed bag for the business books in the first quarter. Ad revenue for BusinessWeek was up 2.2%, while ad pages fell 3%. Forbes' ad revenue was up 2.2%, while ad pages were down 8.9%. Ad revenue for Fortune fell 5.4%, and ad pages declined 13%. The Economist’s ad revenue rose 29%, while ad pages were up 14%.

—Matthew Schwartz