IT capital spending up one-third for nationwide retailers

Capital spending for information technology among nationwide retailers has increased 32%, according to a new Ernst and Young (New York City,

http://www.ey.com) survey. Results indicate that retailers are spending nearly $7.8 million each on IT, with data warehousing topping the list of priorities. "Retailers are finding data warehousing to be a key weapon in the battle to win market share," said Frederick Crawford, director of Ernst and Young's Retail and Consumer Products Industry Practice. Additionally, eighty-three percent of retailers are planning to add IT personnel over the next two years, and IT operating expenses as a percentage of sales are expected to increase by 11 percent.