According to the latest CNBC | SurveyMonkey Small Business Index, 71% of small business owners are concerned that inflation will continue to rise, marking an increase from 66% in the previous quarter. Only 28% of respondents believe inflation has peaked, down from 32%. Rising prices are the top concern for 24% of small business owners, who view it as the greatest risk to their operations, overshadowing other issues like consumer demand and supply chain disruptions. The survey findings suggest that business owners may need to adjust pricing strategies and enhance customer engagement to navigate these inflationary pressures effectively. Additionally, rising operational costs pose a challenge, especially for smaller enterprises with thinner profit margins, highlighting the need for strategic adjustments and efficiency improvements.
IT spending is projected to exceed $6 trillion for the first time in 2026, according to Gartner’s latest forecast. The analyst firm anticipates a growth rate of 9.8% year over year, driven largely by increased investment in data center systems and software, particularly in response to rising demand for artificial intelligence services. John-David Lovelock, distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner, noted that while organizations are currently navigating a period of disillusionment with generative AI, its features are now integrated into existing enterprise software. Despite optimistic forecasts, companies face challenges, including constraints on computing resources and outstanding governance tasks. Lovelock emphasized that the push for AI infrastructure has heightened demand for AI-optimized server racks, although supply limitations hinder server demand growth. Gartner further predicts that enterprises will invest over $37 billion in AI-optimized infrastructure as a service by 2026.
Why do we care?
Here’s the split: small business owners are more worried about inflation now than last quarter — 71% think prices will keep rising. That means they’re cautious, watching expenses, and not spending unless it clearly improves efficiency.
Now flip to Gartner, who’s calling for IT spending to break six trillion dollars by 2026, growing nearly 10% a year. That sounds huge — but remember, most of that is enterprise money, not small business checks. Gartner says we’re in the “AI disillusionment” phase — the hype’s cooling off, but the tech’s quietly becoming part of everything else.
So, what’s that mean for MSPs? Your clients aren’t chasing AI moonshots — they want to cut costs, automate tasks, and fight inflation. The smart move is to connect tech spend to ROI: faster processes, fewer tickets, less waste. Inflation isn’t killing tech spending — it’s redefining it. Those who can prove efficiency will win the next wave. That’s why we care.