Forrester Revises 2008 Outlook

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Based on newly available economic data, Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) is revising downward its outlook for US and global IT purchases in 2008. Forrester now projects that US purchases of IT goods and services will grow 2.8 percent, down from its previous forecast of 4.6 percent. Global purchases of IT goods and services will grow 6 percent, down from the previous preliminary forecast of 9 percent, according to a new Forrester report.

Our forecast is based on a mild recession in the US economy in the first two to three quarters of 2008,” said Forrester Research Vice President Andrew Bartels. “While it is by no means certain that the US economy will in fact experience a recession, the risks of one are high enough to justify a more conservative outlook for the IT market. The US remains the largest single market for IT goods and services, so it is no surprise that the global market is heavily affected by what happens to the US market.”

Forrester Research Inc.