The International Monetary Fund raises its 2026 global growth forecast, citing stronger-than-expected economic resilience and improving productivity trends. The Fund points to reduced drag from U.S. trade measures and faster adjustment across global supply chains as key supporting factors.
A sustained surge in artificial intelligence investment plays a central role in the revised outlook. Spending on data centers, advanced semiconductors, and AI-driven software boosts productivity expectations across major economies, supporting output growth despite lingering geopolitical uncertainty.
The IMF notes that while AI-driven gains improve medium-term prospects, risks remain uneven across regions. The outlook depends on continued capital investment, effective policy support, and the ability of economies to translate technological adoption into broad-based productivity growth.