Global growth would be lower than anticipated by the IMF, showing a weaker outlook for the coming 2026

Economic expansion would be lower than that estimated by the IMF in 2026. Photo: Image generated with Artificial Intelligence - ChatGPT

Global growth would be lower than anticipated by the IMF, showing a weaker outlook for the coming 2026

TL;DR

  • Oxford Economics projects global economic growth of 2.9% for 2026, below the IMF's estimate of 3.1%.
  • Differing assumptions on oil prices are a key driver of the projection gap, with Oxford Economics anticipating higher prices.
  • Oxford Economics forecasts Brent crude to average around $90 per barrel in 2026, potentially reaching $113 in Q2.
  • The analysis highlights that prolonged high energy prices increase the probability of amplified economic effects.
  • Oxford Economics holds a less optimistic view on developed economies compared to the IMF.
  • Both analyses agree on similar performance for emerging markets, focusing the disagreement on advanced economies.
  • Significantly higher oil prices ($100 per barrel average) could increase the risk of recession, with prices between $110-$125 per barrel further raising this probability.