Gartner forecasts W.W. IT spending to reach $3.6T in 2011-- a 5.1% increase over 2010. This prediction is better than Gartner's earlier forecast of 3.5%-- but the company says it's not a certain forecast, thanks to current macroeconomic uncertainty. 

Last year's global IT spending reaches $3.4T (5.4% over 2009). 

The slow economic growth in key economies like W. Europe hampers the speed of recovery, even if the analysts remain cautiously optimistic on "continued healthy spending" on technology. 

The forecast says the computer hardware segment is to grow by 7.5% (to $391.3bn), but vendors could face challenges in the area of PC growth (due to weak economic growth through 2011's first half). 

Telecommunications services spending will grow 3.4% (to $1.65T) and IT services spending should grow by 4.6% (to $817.9bn).

Go Gartner Says W.W. IT Spending to Grow 5.1%