Worldwide spending on computer-related equipment and software will rise as much as 8 percent next year as the economy improves and companies replace aging machines, market researcher IDC said.
Spending will increase 6 percent to 8 percent, more than the company's November forecast of 4.9 percent, IDC analyst Stephen Minton said in an interview. He estimated growth at less than 1 percent this year after declines in the past two years.
Technology spending will recover next year as companies replace personal computers and networking gear and add fresh software and related services.
While spending may never return to the 15 percent annual gains of the 1990s, Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC said corporations are no longer freezing their budgets.
That may boost sales at PC makers such as Dell Inc and suppliers including Intel Corp and Microsoft Corp.
"Most major players will benefit," said Gus Zinn, an analyst at Waddell & Reed in Overland Park, Kansas. "Next year is going to be more about large enterprises."
Researchers from Gartner Inc to iSuppli Corp expect growth in key markets next year. PC shipments will rise 14 percent to 168 million units next year, and revenue will increase 15 percent to US$125.7 billion, said Joe D'Elia, an analyst at iSuppli.
Technology spending fell 1.3 percent in 2001 and 3.1 percent last year, after rising 12.5 percent to US$906 billion in 2000, according to IDC. IDC expects spending of US$872 billion this year.
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