The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international group of 38 countries that works to promote economic progress, has slightly increased its estimate for global economic growth in 2026 to 2.9%, up by 0.1 percentage point. This comes despite a slowdown compared to last year’s 3.4%, which was partly due to high energy prices and inflation. The OECD notes that the global economy has shown resilience despite challenges, including the ongoing war in the Middle East. This resilience is supported by government aid and growing investments in artificial intelligence, which are seen as drivers of future economic activity. However, the OECD cautions that its outlook remains uncertain, as new changes in monetary policy could occur if inflation or economic growth show unexpected trends. In France, the OECD has lowered its growth forecast for 2026 to just 0.4%, citing weak public finances and uncertainty caused by the upcoming presidential election. In contrast, the broader eurozone is expected to grow by 1% in 2026, with Germany projected to perform slightly better at 1.1%. The OECD is more optimistic about the United States, forecasting 2.2% growth in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027. Meanwhile, China’s growth is expected to slow slightly to 4.5% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027. Looking ahead to 2027, the OECD predicts global economic growth will reach 3%, driven by falling energy prices and reduced inflation. This is expected to be influenced by central banks, such as the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve, which have raised interest rates to control inflation. However, the OECD warns that rising tensions between the United States and Israel against Iran could disrupt oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy trade. Oil prices have recently dropped below $100 per barrel, and there is hope for diplomatic progress as world leaders meet in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. However, other factors remain uncertain, including changes in U.S. trade policies and rising interest rates in several countries, such as France. France’s long-term borrowing costs have reached their highest level in at least 15 years, around 4.50%, which is straining its budget. The OECD suggests that governments should focus on targeted support to reduce the impact of energy prices and manage public spending more carefully. Additionally, extreme weather events, including the strongest El Niño on record, could disrupt global agriculture and further increase food prices, posing additional risks to the global economy.