Global IT spending is expected to grow just 0.6 per cent to USD 3.54 trillion in 2016 over the last year, impacted by the strong dollar.
In 2015, IT spending globally was at about USD 3.52 trillion dollars.
"2015 saw the largest US dollar drop in IT spending since Gartner began tracking IT spending. USD 216 billion dollars less was spent on IT in 2015 than in 2014 and 2014 spending levels won't be surpassed until 2019," Gartner said in a statement.
The rising US dollar is the "villain" behind 2015 results, Gartner Research Vice President John-David Lovelock said.
"US multinationals' revenue faced currency headwinds in 2015. However, in 2016 those headwinds go away and they can expect an additional 5 percent growth," he added.
Software spending is on pace to total USD 326 billion, a 5.3 per cent increase from 2015, while that on IT services is expected to rise 3.1 per cent to USD 940 billion.
The devices market (PCs, ultramobiles, mobile phones, tablets and printers) is forecast to decline 1.9 per cent in 2016 to USD 641 billion.
Data centre systems' spending is projected to reach USD 75 billion in 2016, a 3 per cent increase from 2015.
Telecom services spending is projected to decline 1.2 per cent in 2016, with spending reaching USD 1.45 trillion.
