Andre Yoskowitz
7 Jul 2013 14:22
According to research firm Gartner, global IT spending will hit $3.7 trillion this year, up just 2 percent from last year's $3.6 trillion.
The prediction is down from last quarter's forecast of 4.1 percent, mainly thanks to recent wild fluctuations in th exchange rates for the U.S. dollar.
Spending on IT devices (hardware) is expected to grow a measly 2.8 percent, down from the firm's forecast of 7.9 percent. The drop in notebook and desktop PC sales that exceeded double figures last quarter is not expected to relent, and new devices nor the release of Windows 8.1 is expected to help, says Gartner.
Tablet growth, while robust at a forecasted 38.9 percent this year, will not be able to make up the difference. Mobile phone growth will also remain strong at 9.3 percent.
"Exchange rate movements, and a reduction in our 2013 forecast for devices, account for the bulk of the downward revision of the 2013 growth," Gartner managing vice president Richard Gordon said in a statement. "Regionally, 2013 constant-currency spending growth in most regions has been lowered. However, Western Europe's constant-currency growth has been inched up slightly as strategic IT initiatives in the region will continue despite a poor economic outlook."