By Anu Adegbola
Publication Date: 2026-01-16 20:51:00
Spending on Google search ads rose 13% year over year in Q4 2025, up from 10% in Q3, based on Tinuiti’s latest benchmark report. Click growth for advertisers hit its strongest rate since early 2021, while average CPCs declined slightly for the second consecutive quarter. AI-driven results continue to expand overall query volume, including commercial searches.
Why we care. Google search ad clicks are surging while CPCs remain flat, a trend fueled in part by Amazon stepping back from U.S. Google Shopping auctions. Advertisers are seeing both opportunity (CPC mostly stable) and disruption as spend patterns shift across search and shopping.
Additionally, AI-driven query growth is expanding the overall search funnel, offering more opportunities to reach customers earlier in their buying journey.
Shopping ad trends: Google Shopping ad spend climbed 16% year over year as Target and Walmart stepped up during the holiday season. Amazon’s absence left a void…
