Its worldwide operating margin decreased by 1% to €550m, with falls in operating margin for its street furniture and billboards partially offset by increases in its transport division.
The outdoor operator said the operating margin for its six-sheet street furniture division in the UK was "heavily impacted" by lower advertising revenue.
In addition, group operating margin for its billboard division, which includes the larger formats, dropped 18.2% to €70.5m, due to revenue decline in the UK and Spain.
Jean-Charles Decaux, chairman of the executive board and co-chief executive, said JCDecaux had a "good first half of 2008" but an "increasingly challenging" second six months.
Looking ahead, he expected organic revenue to decline in 2009, the first time in the company's history. He blamed economic slowdown, reduced advertising budgets and increased competition between media.
Decline in revenue is forecast to be about 10% in the first quarter this year, with reduced visibility preventing a full-year prognosis.
The company would not recommend the payment of a dividend to shareholders for 2008.
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