A deep and lingering credit crisis is throttling investment in moneymaking projects that could help jump-start a U.S. economy mired in its worst downturn in decades, a new survey of corporate executives shows.

More than 80 percent of IT decision-makers at both large and medium-size businesses view business continuity and availability as an increased priority for 2007 and key to sharpening their competitive business edge worldwide, according to survey results released today