IMF sees steady global growth in 2026 as AI boom offsets trade headwinds

The International Monetary Fund again edged its 2026 global growth forecast higher on Monday as businesses and economies adapt to US tariffs that have eased in recent months and a continued ​AI investment boom that has fueled asset wealth and expectations of productivity gains.

The IMF in its World Economic Outlook, update forecast global GDP growth at 3.3% in 2026, up ‌0.2 percentage point from its last estimate in October. That’s even with 3.3% growth in 2025, which will also beat the October estimate by 0.1 percentage point, the IMF said.