Global IT Spending To Rise 6% In 2012 To $3.6T: IDC

Venerable forecaster IDC predicted global spending on information technology this year will rise six percent to about $3.6 trillion, despite sluggishness in sector like PCs. The market also includes telecommunications services.

Growth would be higher were it not for the strong dollar, which shaves some of the gains from major U.S. suppliers, the Framingham, Mass., forecaster said.

In 2013, growth is expected to be about six percent, due in part to the new Windows 8 from Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), the world's biggest software company, which should trigger a major replacement cycle, as well as growth in emerging markets like China.

"While this is a tough year for many IT vendors, the overall performance of the industry has been healthier than expected," said Stephen Minton, VP at IDC.