The global economy in five charts
you are currently viewing::The global economy in five chartsJanuary 13, 2026-The global economy demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025 despite increased trade tensions and policy uncertainty. Activity was supported by a stockpiling of goods, strong risk appetite, and a surge in artificial intelligence (AI)-related investment. Global growth in 2025 capped a solid five-year recovery from the 2020 recession, but vulnerable emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) continue to lag behind, according to the Global Economic Prospects report. Global growth is set to ease to 2.6 percent in 2026 as several supportive factors wane, giving way to a slowdown in demand for traded goods and softer domestic demand in key economies. By 2027, growth is expected to edge up to 2.7 percent as earlier monetary easing supports domestic demand and trade recovers amid declining uncertainty. Source: worldbank.org |
June 24, 2026-New global research shows affluent and high-net-worth investors use AI tools but rely on trusted professional advice when making financial decisions.
73% use AI for finance and investment, but just 12% say it was the most influential factor in their last investment decision.
Human expertise leads for investment ideas, with 62% citing financial professionals and institutions as the main source.
June 23, 2026-During May the actively managed ETFs industry globally gathered net inflows of US$100.08 billion, bringing year-to-date net inflows to US$411.75 billion, according to ETFGI's May 2026 Active ETF industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service.
June 11, 2026-The conflict in the Middle East is expected to slow global growth to the lowest rate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic amid higher energy prices, steeper inflation, and increased borrowing costs , according to the World Bank Group's latestGlobal Economic Prospects report.
Global growth is forecast to slow to 2.5% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025. Forecasts for two-thirds of economies have been downgraded relative to January of this year.
May 28, 2026-The May 2026 Chief Economists' Outlook opens on a more pessimistic note than the January edition. Drawing on consultations and survey responses from the World Economic Forum's Chief Economists Community, the report examines a global economy unsettled by the escalation of conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.