IT Buyers Seen Increasing SpendingIT Buyers Seen Increasing Spending

A survey of IT buyer expectations shows buyers are warming up to spending again.

IDC's FutureScan said Wednesday that "expectations for IT spending growth over the next 12 months have taken a decidedly optimistic turn." A month ago, IDC's market indicators predicted growth of less than 7 percent; this month it's more than 9 percent.

"After several quarters of decent corporate profits, it seems that buyers are hoping some additional funds will trickle down into IT spending," John Gantz, IDC chief research officer, said in a statement.

Despite the' generally positive outlook, IT buyers are still grappling with infrastructure upgrades, which represent some 40 percent of 2005 IT spending, he said. The remaining 60 percent will be fairly evenly split between new programs and working on initiatives already underway.

IDC surveys proposed IT spending on a monthly basis, Gantz said.