Global IT and telecom spending will grow 3.7 percent to $4 trillion in 2018, but economic concerns could derail growth in 2019, according to IDC.

In 2017, IT and telecom spending grew at a 4.2 percent clip.

IDC said economic issues like tariffs[1], rising interest rates and growth in China could cut IT spending to less than 3 percent. Indeed, Daimler issued a profit warning based on tariffs[2] on its U.S. made cars.

By 2022, annual IT spending should hit $4.5 trillion with software and services, cloud, and digital transformation seeing the most demand. Infrastructure spending has stabilized largely due to cloud spending.

IDC said there's a likelihood for a mild U.S. recession by 2020, but spending on cost saving software and cloud should provide a buffer for IT spending.

References

  1. ^ like tariffs (www.cbsnews.com)
  2. ^ issued a profit warning based on tariffs (www.daimler.com)

Read more from our friends at ZDNet