Business · Economy · 6 hrs ago
IMF raises 2026 global growth forecast as AI investment offsets war pressures
The IMF expects the world economy to grow 3.1% in 2026, slightly more than it forecast in July.
It says investment in artificial intelligence is helping offset economic pressure from the war involving Iran and higher energy and commodity prices.
The forecast is lower than the 3.5% growth recorded in 2025, and the IMF expects growth to reach 3.4% in 2027.
Spain is forecast to grow 2.5% this year, making it the fastest-growing large European economy in the outlook.
The IMF also projects global inflation of 4.7% in 2026 and warns about the costs of debt and cyberattacks.
Its updated outlook was released as the IMF and World Bank held their annual meetings in Bangkok.
The International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for global economic growth in 2026 to 3.1%, one tenth of a percentage point above its previous projection.
It expects growth of 3.4% in 2027, compared with 3.5% in 2025.
The IMF said investment driven by artificial intelligence is supporting growth, while the Iran war and higher energy and commodity prices are weighing on it.
It raised its forecast for global inflation to 4.7% in 2026 and expects it to ease to 4.1% in 2027.
The IMF presented its updated World Economic Outlook ahead of its annual meeting with the World Bank in Bangkok.
- Who
- The International Monetary Fund. Its research department director, Silvana Tenreyro, discussed the forces shaping growth.
- What
- The IMF raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1%.
- When
- The forecast was reported on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The IMF and World Bank annual meeting was being held in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Why
- The IMF said AI-related investment is supporting growth, partly offsetting pressure from the Iran war and higher energy and commodity prices.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
El Mundo reported the IMF’s updated global growth forecasts.
The IMF and World Bank annual meeting was scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Global growth forecast, 2026
- 3.1%
- Global growth forecast, 2027
- 3.4%
- Global inflation forecast, 2026
- 4.7%
- Global inflation forecast, 2027
- 4.1%
- Spain growth forecast, 2026
- 2.5%
What people are saying
The global economy is testing its resilience, but unevenly, with increasingly narrow margins for short-term adjustments.
the increase in energy and other commodity prices because of the war (in the Middle East), which acts as a global negative shock, raising prices and affecting activity. The second is the technology boom driven by AI, which acts as a positive demand shock, boosting prices and activity, especially investment and trade
Sources
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