WPP today reported a four percent rise in Q1 revenues to $3.9B as its business advanced against all sectors, expect the PA, PR group.

The Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Burson-Marsteller, Cohn & Wolfe, Ogilvy PR and RLM Finsbury-dominated group slipped 1.4 percent to $354M.

The North American, Western Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific PA/PR growth was "difficult," according to WPP's report. The U.K. and Latin American markets were "stronger."

CEO Martin Sorrell says Q1 operating profit was "ahead of budget and well ahead of last year." He’s looking for a more robust second half.

WPP’s focus in development of its interactive and digital analytics capacity, as well as maintaining flexible staff costs at about seven percent of revenue, positions the ad/PR combine "well should current market conditions change for the worse."

Sorrell remains confident that 2014 will be a stronger year due to the World Cup (Brazil), Winter Olympics (Sochi, Russia) and U.S. Congressional elections.