Information & Communication Technology Survey

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

General highlights

In 2010, U.S. nonfarm businesses with employees spent a total of $263.1 billion on noncapitalized and capitalized information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, including computer software. This represents an increase of 3.1 percent from the revised 2009 estimate of $255.3 billion.¹ (See Summary Table A below, Table 1a [xls, 100KB] and 1b[xls, 98KB].)

Noncapitalized ICT spending in 2010 was $93.6 billion (35.6 percent of total spending), which is an increase of 5.9 percent from the revised 2009 estimate of $88.3 billion. Capitalized ICT spending in 2010 was $169.5 billion (64.4 percent of total spending). Note: If an increase or decrease compared with 2009 is not stated in the text, then there was no statistically significant difference between 2010 and 2009 data.²)

Summary Table A. Total Expenditures for ICT Equipment and Computer Software for Companies with Employees: 2010, and 2009 Revised (Billions of current dollars)
ICT Equipment and Computer Software Expenditures	2010	2009	% Change
Total	263.1	255.3	3.1%
Noncapitalized Expenditures	93.6	88.3	5.9%
Capitalized Expenditures	169.5	166.9	1.6% NS
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Information and Communication Technology Survey Note: Detail may not add to total because of rounding. NS: Not Statistically Significant See the "Reliability of the Estimates" Section of the Sampling and Estimation Methodologies appendix for information on sampling variability, confidence intervals and statistical significance.

Noncapitalized expenditures. Of total noncapitalized ICT spending in 2010 ($93.6 billion), purchases of ICT equipment accounted for $17.8 billion (19.0 percent), an increase of 5.2 percent from 2009. Operating leases and rental payments accounted for $15.9 billion (16.9 percent). Computer software expenditures accounted for $59.9 billion (64.0 percent), an increase of 7.4 percent from 2009.

Purchases of ICT equipment. Of the $17.8 billion spent on noncapitalized ICT purchases, computer and peripheral equipment accounted for $11.7 billion, an increase of 5.6 percent from 2009. ICT equipment excluding computers and peripherals accounted for $5.8 billion. Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses accounted for $0.3 billion, an increase of 34.8 percent from 2009.

Operating leases and rental payments. Of the $15.9 billion spent on noncapitalized operating leases and rental payments, computer and peripheral equipment accounted for $10.3 billion. ICT equipment excluding computers and peripherals accounted for $4.1 billion. Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatus accounted for $1.4 billion, an increase of 40.1 percent from 2009.

Computer software expenditures. Of the $59.9 billion spent on noncapitalized computer software, $28.5 billion was for purchases and payroll for developing software, an increase of 10.3 percent from 2009. $31.4 billion was for software licensing and service/maintenance agreements.(See Summary Table B below, Table 1a[xls, 100KB] and 1b[xls, 98KB].)

Summary Table B. Noncapitalized Expenditures for ICT Equipment and Computer Software for Companies with Employees: 2010, and 2009 Revised (Billions of current dollars)
ICT Equipment and Computer Software Expenditures	2010	2009	% Change
Total	93.6	88.3	5.9%
Purchases of ICT equipment	17.8	16.9	5.2%
Computer and peripheral equipment	11.7	11.1	5.6%
Information and communication technology equipment	5.8	5.6	3.4% NS
Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses	0.3	0.2	34.8%
Operating leases and rental payments	15.9	15.6	1.5% NS
Computer and peripheral equipment	10.3	10.5	-1.4% NS
Information and communication technology equipment	4.1	4.2	-0.3% NS
Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses	1.4	1.0	40.1%
Computer software expenditures	59.9	55.8	7.4%
Purchases and payroll for developing software	28.5	25.9	10.3%
Software licensing and service/maintenance aggreements	31.4	29.9	4.8% NS
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Information and Communication Technology Survey Note: Detail may not add to total because of rounding. NS: Not Statistically Significant See the "Reliability of the Estimates" Section of the Sampling and Estimation Methodologies appendix for information on sampling variability, confidence intervals and statistical significance.

Capitalized expenditures. Of total capitalized ICT spending in 2010 ($169.5 billion), purchases of ICT equipment accounted for $106.1 billion (62.6 percent). This is an increase of 4.1 percent from 2009. Capitalized purchases and payroll for developing software accounted for $63.5 billion (37.4 percent), a decrease of 2.4 percent from 2009.

Purchases of ICT equipment. Of the $106.1 billion spent on capitalized ICT purchases, computer and peripheral equipment accounted for $53.5 billion, an increase of 10.2 percent from 2009. ICT equipment excluding computers and peripherals accounted for $47.4 billion. Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatus accounted for $5.2 billion.(See Summary Table C below, Table 1a[xls, 100KB] and 1b[xls, 98KB].)

Summary Table C. Capitalized Expenditures for ICT Equipment and Computer Software for Companies with Employees: 2010, and 2009 Revised (Billions of current dollars)
ICT Equipment and Computer Software Expenditures	2010	2009	% Change
Total	169.5	166.9	1.6% NS
Purchases of ICT equipment	106.1	101.9	4.1%
Computer and peripheral equipment	53.5	48.5	10.2%
Information and communication technology equipment	47.4	47.9	-1.1% NS
Electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses	5.2	5.5	-5.3% NS
Computer Software Expenditures	N/A	N/A	N/A
Purchases and payroll for developing software	63.5	65.0	-2.4%
Software licensing and service maintenance agreements	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Information and Communication Technology Survey Note: Detail may not add to total because of rounding. NS: Not Statistically Significant See the "Reliability of the Estimates" Section of the Sampling and Estimation Methodologies appendix for information on sampling variability, confidence intervals and statistical significance.

Selected sector highlights

Complete sector level data are provided in Summary Charts A, B, and C below and in the publication Tables 2a-4h.

Information

[PDF, 250KB]

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Finance and insurance

[PDF, 223KB ]

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Manufacturing

[PDF, 694KB ]

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Professional, scientific, and technical services

[PDF, 226KB]

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Health care and social assistance

[PDF, 229KB]

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Retail trade

[PDF, 204KB]

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Wholesale Trade

[PDF, 173KB]

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Administrative and support and waste management

[PDF, 209KB]

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Utilities

[PDF, 163KB]

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Transportation and warehousing

[PDF, 253KB]

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Educational Services

[PDF, 44.7KB]

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Other services(except public administration)

[PDF, 194KB]

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Management of companies and enterprises

[PDF, 45.7]

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Real estate and rental and leasing

[PDF, 198KB]

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Accommodation Services

[PDF, 167KB]

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Mining

[PDF, 184KB]

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Construction

[PDF, 170KB]

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Arts, entertainment, and recreation

[PDF, 181KB]

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Forestry, fishing, and agricultural services

[PDF, 44.4KB]

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Endnotes

¹The revised total expenditures estimate for 2009 reflects an downward revision of $1.4 billion in noncapitalized expenditures to $88.3 billion and an upward revision of $2.7 billion in capitalized expenditures to $166.9 billion. The revisions reflect additional information and/or corrections submitted by respondents subsequent to the initial published estimates.

² Estimated measures of sampling variability have been calculated for each estimate and are used to construct 90-percent confidence intervals (or ranges) for all estimates of change. If the estimated range of change contains zero (0), then it is uncertain whether there was an increase or a decrease; that is, the change is not statistically different from zero (0), and the current estimate is not statistically different from the prior estimate at the 90-percent confidence level. See the "Reliability of the Estimates" section of the Sampling and Estimation Methodologies appendix for more information on confidence intervals and statistical significance.