However, the firm reported that emerging markets bucked the performance of Western countries and demonstrated revenue growth -- Latin America grew by 6%, while Asia Pacific/Middle East rose by 8.5%.
Plummeting marketing and advertising budgets among Ipsos's client base contributed significantly to falling revenues -- marketing research and advertising research revenues each fell 8% while opinion and social research experienced the worst cutbacks, down 9%.
Conversely, media research grew by 15% in Q1 2009, compared with Q1 in 2008, and a 12.5% rise in customer relationship management-related research offered a clear indication of companies' investment in loyalty programmes.
In spite of tough trading conditions, Ipsos remained bullish and said that business should recover gradually each quarter thanks to renewed business momentum from emerging markets and North America.
The company said it is convinced that it can outperform the rest of the market research market over 2009.
Separately, Ipsos Understanding UnLtd -- the group's qualitative research division in the US -- has appointed Jill Wittman as vice-president of innovation and qualitative research.
Before she joined Ipsos, Wittman held a number of positions at Procter & Gamble. She will be based at Ipsos's Cincinnati office.