IT expenditure 'to rise beyond initial estimates'

Global expenditure on IT in 2011 will rise more than had initially been expected, according to a new report.

Research carried out Gartner reveals that while analysts had predicted earlier this year that annual spending would increase 5.6 per cent, they now believe a 7.1 per cent hike will take place.

Overall, the worldwide IT services market is expected to be worth $846 billion (£526 billion) by the end of 2011, with computing and hardware set to see the strongest growth.

This sector - which could include VoIP hardware and other products - is estimated to increase 11.7 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, research vice-president Richard Gordon claimed "it is a bit surprising" that the earthquake and tsunami that took place in Japan last March has not had a greater effect on global IT expenditure than has so far proven to be the case.

Figures released by the organisation earlier this year revealed that worldwide IT spending stood at $3.4 trillion last year.