IMF July 2026 WEO Update: growth steady but uneven across countriesThe IMF has updated its summer outlook for the world economy
In its World Economic Outlook Update of July 8, 2026, the IMF projected global growth of 3.0 percent in 2026 and 3.4 percent in 2027, broadly unchanged from its April 2026 outlook. It describes growth as steady but uneven across countries, with headwinds from the war and tailwinds from the technology upcycle, and says global disinflation has stalled.
Key points
- Global growth is projected at 3.0 percent in 2026 and 3.4 percent in 2027, broadly unchanged from the April 2026 World Economic Outlook
- The war shock is weighing on energy importers and vulnerable economies, while AI-driven demand is lifting countries integrated into the global technology value chain
- Global disinflation has stalled
- Risks are more balanced than in April, but downside risks from renewed conflict and financial market repricing persist; policymakers are advised to preserve price stability, rebuild fiscal space and strengthen adaptability
What to do in practice
- Because growth differs by country, check which regions and sectors your customers are concentrated in
- Use the stalled easing of inflation as an input when reviewing pricing and purchasing plans
On July 8, 2026 the IMF (International Monetary Fund) said the world economy is expected to grow 3.0 percent in 2026 and 3.4 percent in 2027, about the same as in April. The war is a drag on some countries while technology is a tailwind for others, so the pace of growth differs from country to country.
- ○Applies: Growth is steady but uneven across countries
- ○Applies: The slowdown in price rises has stalled
- ○Applies: Risks are more balanced than in April, but downside worries remain
Points
- The world economy is expected to grow 3.0 percent in 2026 and 3.4 percent in 2027
- Some countries struggle because of the war, while others grow on demand for technology such as AI
- The easing of price rises has stalled
What the words mean
- growth rate
- the share by which a country's or the world's economy grows over one year
- energy importer
- a country that buys oil, gas and the like from abroad
Growth is steady but uneven across countries amid headwinds from the war and tailwinds from the technology upcycle.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): IMF, World Economic Outlook Update, July 2026
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