In the 10 weeks to 31 October, the company's ad revenue fell 19.1%. This means that over the first 18 weeks of the second half of 2009, ad revenue is down 22.1%.
This marks an improvement in Johnston Press's fortunes in the early part of the year. Ad revenue for the first 26 weeks of the year was down 32.7% year on year.
The company said the "stability" in ad revenues had continued into September and October, with ad spend in these months at the same level as in May and June, "with improvements in the property market offsetting a continued decline in recruitment-related revenues".
Alongside improving ad revenue, the company expects to make cuts this year, with a predicted year-on-year reduction in costs in 2009 of "around £50m".
However, while the business "continues to be cash generative", there was limited scope to cut its debts in the second half of the year, as a result of £15m fees on its refinancing repackage.
Looking ahead, the company said that given the "greater stability in advertising revenues", it was confident of posting an operating profit for 2009.
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