2000 ad spending shows big growth; 13% increase refutes fears that lower market caps would slash ad budgets.

B-to-b ad spending surged sharply in the first half of this year, according to figures released last week by Business Information Network Inc.

The gain is important because it shows that depleted market caps of many b-to-b companies have not led to decreased ad spending. Some b-to-b executives and analysts had fretted this would happen.

Among BIN's most significant findings:

* Overall b-to-b ad spending was up 13% in the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 1999.

* Ad pages were up 5.9% in the first half of 2000.

* The finance, business and advertising category led the charge with a 57% boost in ad spending. …