The IMF in its World Economic Outlook update forecast global GDP growth at 3.3 per cent in 2026, up 0.2 percentage point from its last estimate in October. That’s even with 3.3 per cent growth in 2025, which will also beat the October estimate by 0.1 percentage point, it said. The global crisis lender forecast 2027 growth at 3.2 per cent, unchanged from the previous forecast. It has revised global growth rates higher since last July in response to trade deals that have reduced US President Donald Trump’s tariff rates that peaked in April 2025. The IMF edged its 2027 growth forecast a tenth of a point lower to 2 per cent.

Source: International New York Times January 19, 2026 10:55 UTC