IT spending is remaining "buoyant" despite an uncertain economic outlook, a new survey has found.

The Benchmark of IT Spending 2008 study, conducted by that National Computing Centre (NCC) reveals that 58 per cent of respondents predict an above inflation increase in IT expenditure over the next 12 months.

Stefan Foster, managing director of NCC, said: " We hear talk of a recession, but the Benchmark results indicate that IT purchasers are remaining confident about future economic conditions; they are making sure that their businesses have the right technology to deliver growth over the coming years, but they are not over optimistic."

The survey also found that, typically, operational spending accounts for 39 per cent of IT expenditure, while staff costs represent 35 per cent of the budge and capital and development spending took up 20 per cent.

Last month, IT firm Gartner warned that IT managers must cut costs in light of an impending recession.

More than half of small businesses (53%) believe that the most important benefit of outsourcing is guaranteed response times for IT support, London based Connect conducted the research in 2007.