Gartner sacrificed a bull, yanked out the liver and read the auspices, claiming it means that worldwide enterprise IT spending will grow 2.5% in 2013 to $2.679 trillion after "scant" growth in 2012.

"The global economic outlook has deteriorated in 2012, leading to scant overall growth in enterprise IT spending" according to Gartner research director Kenneth Brant. "However, our third-quarter outlook points to more substantial growth in 2013, if significant fiscal crises are avoided in the US and Europe, and in subsequent years. Most enterprises have already significantly cut discretionary IT spending growth over the past several years and, barring a global economic catastrophe and significant contraction of operations, they have little room to reduce IT spending further over the long run."

Gartner foresees spending in the manufacturing and natural resources sector will be up 2.3%; banking and securities 3.5%; communications, media and services 3%; and both transportation and insurance more than 4% next year.

Government IT spending is expecting to fall 2% this year, with modest declines next year.