OECD raises global growth rate to 2.9% in 2026, supported by AI-related investment

[Paris Current Affairs] The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released its latest economic outlook on the 23rd, raising the global growth rate in 2026 to 2.9%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from the previous forecast in June. In the first half of the year, the economy was held down by high crude oil prices due to the tense situation in the Middle East, but the economy remained steady in many countries, supported by investments related to artificial intelligence (AI). It is expected that these trends will continue into 2027.

Asia's growth rate to rise to 5.0% in 2026, supported by AI boom - ADB

The growth rate forecast for 2027 has been lowered by 0.1 percentage point to 3.0%. Increasing inflation pressures, sluggish real income growth, and rising interest rates are the immediate pressure factors. However, energy prices are expected to fall in the same year, and the OECD predicted that this would "stimulate economic activity."

The growth rate forecasts for 2026 by country and region are 0.8% for Japan, 2.2% for the United States, and 1.0% for the euro area, each raised by 0.2 points. India's domestic demand is strong, and the index has been revised upward by 0.8 points to 7.1%. China's rate remained unchanged at 4.5%.