World companies cautious on IT spending.

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After a period of cost-cutting and reactive spending, organizations with more than $1 billion in revenue will be cautious when making their IT spending decisions in 2006, according to Gartner Consulting's Worldwide

IT Benchmark Service.

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In 2006, Gartner says the most significant difference in spending will be in the consumer products industry, with IT spending increasing 7.9 percent in 2006, up from flat growth in 2005. Although IT spending in the electronics and insurance industries is expected to be 7.8 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, this is a decline from 2005, when IT spending in those industries increased 8.3 percent and 7.7 percent respectively. The professional services industry will see the decline in IT spending in as spending is expected to decline 1.7 percent, down from 10.1 percent in 2005.

Forrester Research said companies will have little...