The overall amount spent by various interests on federal lobbying declined yet again in the third quarter of the year, a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics shows — a continuation of the trend that’s been going on for several years.

The pharmaceutical and health products industry spent the most in the third quarter, $54.8 million — a slight increase from its second quarter spending of $51 million, but still a decline from 2012’s third quarter, when the industry spent $56.8 million. And pharmaceuticals was one of the few industries that saw an increase in overall spending from the second quarter to the third. Of the 90 industries that CRP tracks, only 20 spent more last quarter, and 69 spent less. Organizations filing federal lobbying disclosure forms reported spending $760.3 million between July 1 and Sept. 30, the lowest amount in a single quarter going back to at least 2010. Additionally, the reports listed 10,048 active registered lobbyists, the lowest number in at least as long, and far below the 10,878 active registered lobbyists in the third quarter of 2012.

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The industry that decreased its spending most precipitously was TV, movies and music, which cut its spending in the third quarter by about 21 percent — from $31.6 million in the second quarter to $24.9 million in the third. Two major companies in the industry, Charter Communications and Comcast Corp., significantly cut spending, according to their filings.

Below is a list of the five biggest spending industries. This newly updated lobbying data can be found on OpenSecrets.org

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