Global IT spending is expected to grow 9.8% in 2025, to $5.6 trillion, with much of that increase going to price hikes, according to Gartner.
And while CIOs' expectations for generative AI are on the wane — what the IT consultant called a "trough of disillusionment" — their spending on the technology will continue to rise, Gartner predicted. Those hardware upgrades will drive double-digit growth in data center systems, devices and software this year.
"In 2025, nominal spending versus real IT spending will be skewed, with price hikes absorbing some or all of budget growth," said John-David Lovelock, distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner, in a Jan. 21 news release. "All major categories are reflecting higher-than-expected prices, prompting CIOs to defer and scale back their true budget expectations."
Here is the forecasted growth in 2025 for five IT categories, according to the report:
Data center systems: 23.2%
Software: 14.2%
Devices: 10.4%
IT services: 9%
Communications services: 3.8%