New York — Candy and food advertising increased 3.5 percent to $6.2 billion in 2009 amid broader declines, according to Kantar Media.

Total advertising expenditures fell 12.3 percent to $125 billion compared with the previous year, the researcher reports, while total ad spending in the fourth quarter was down six percent.

Though advertising through most media declined, Free Standing Inserts reportedly grew three percent for the year, but were flat in the fourth quarter.