NEW YORK — The financial turmoil will dampen worldwide technology spending in 2009, according to research firm IDC. However, the lack of a tech "bubble" will hasten the rebound, the firm predicts.

The research firm revised its growth outlook for worldwide IT spending to 2.6%, down from an August forecast of 5.9%. The firm's US spending outlook was slashed to 0.9%, down from 4.2%, while Japan and Western Europe will grow around 1%.

Despite the economic downturn, IDC continues to expect spending on technology products and services to continue to grow next year — just at a slower pace. "IT is in a better position than ever to resist the downward pull of a slowing economy," said IDC chief research officer John Gantz in a press release, because it "remains critical to achieving further efficiency and productivity gains."

The firm expects Emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to continue to do well.

IDC growth rates approaching 6 percent in 2012. Even so, the research firm estimates that the industry will lose more than $300 billion in revenue due to slower spending over the next four years.

Nevertheless, designers and manufacturers are better positioned than they were in 2001, the firm says, when the tech bubble brought about by excess inventory took several quarters to correct. With no bubble this time around, slower spending won't have the same deep effect, and will rebound more quickly.

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