In 2026, employment growth is projected to rebound as overall economic activity increases. In later years, fewer jobs are added to payrolls per
In the United States, a modest economic tailwind fueled by expansionary fiscal policies and rate cuts will help push growth to 2.2% in 2026, write RSM US Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas and Economist Tuan Nguyen. * **Australia:** The economy will remain resilient amid global uncertainties, producing steady but modest growth of 2%, writes RSM Australia economist Devika Shivadekar. For this reason, we are attaching a 25% probability that growth will increase to 2.5% or higher as inflation eases and the Fed pushes its policy rate to 3% more quickly than investors are pricing in. Should productivity improve, those gains would create the conditions for a quicker return to the Fed’s 2% inflation target, which would provide the ingredients for stronger growth, lower Fed rates and a decline in the 10-year Treasury yield. The combination of a loosening labor market, slower pay growth and lower inflation will allow the Bank of England to cut interest rates in December and potentially twice more next year, taking rates to 3.25%.
For definitions of uncertainty and risks in economic projections, see the box “Forecast Uncertainty.” Page 10 of 17 For release at 2:00 p.m., EDT, March 18, 2026 Figure 4.B. Uncertainty and risks in projections of the unemployment rate Median projection and confidence interval based on historical forecast errors Actual Percent Unemployment rate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 Median of projections 70% confidence interval FOMC participants’ assessments of uncertainty and risks around their economic projections Number of Participants Uncertainty about the unemployment rate 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Lower Broadly similar Higher March projections December projections Number of Participants Risks to the unemployment rate 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Weighted to downside Broadly balanced Weighted to upside March projections December projections Note: The blue and red lines in the top panel show actual values and median projected values, respectively, of the average civilian unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year indicated.
Global GDP growth is projected to remain broadly stable at 2.9% in 2026 before edging up to 3.0% in 2027, sustained by robust technology-related
* [*BRC Ratings – S&P Global](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/economic-outlook-us-q2-2026-curb-your-enthusiasm-s101676533). [Current Oil Price Surge To Weigh On Growth](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/economic-outlook-us-q2-2026-curb-your-enthusiasm-s101676533). [Baseline Forecast: Temporary Energy Shock, Forecast Conviction Low](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/economic-outlook-us-q2-2026-curb-your-enthusiasm-s101676533). [Inflation: Higher Energy Cost On Top Of Already Elevated Core](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/economic-outlook-us-q2-2026-curb-your-enthusiasm-s101676533). Before the war broke out, we were expecting to increase our growth forecast for this year closer to 2.5% on higher-than-expected growth in the second half of last year, looser financial conditions, lower uncertainty, larger assumptions for household tax refunds and big-tech AI spending, and steady growth in the first two months, as indicated by high frequency weekly economic indicators (see “[U.S. Real-Time Data: Energy-Related Inflation Risks Rise Against Steady Growth Momentum](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/sourceId/101672676)," March 20, 2026). * [U.S. Real-Time Data: Energy-Related Inflation Risks Rise Against Steady Growth Momentum](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/sourceId/101672676), March 20, 2026. * [S&P Global Ratings Raises 2026 Oil Price Assumptions On Longer-Than-Expected Oil Flows Disruption](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/sourceId/101675235), March 16, 2026. * [Economic Research: New U.S. Inflation Risks Emerge While Price Pressures Build For Producers](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/sourceId/101672683), March 3, 2026.
# World Economic Outlook Update. World Economic Outlook Update, January 2026: Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces. #### Resilient growth as technology and adaptability offset trade policy headwinds. World Economic Outlook Update, January 2026: Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces. Global growth is projected at 3.3 percent for 2026 and 3.2 percent for 2027, revised slightly up since the October 2025 World Economic Outlook. World Economic Outlook Update, January 2026: Projections Table. ###### World Economic Outlook Update, October 2025: Three Essential Questions. ###### Press Briefing: World Economic Outlook, October 2025. ###### World Economic Outlook, October 2025: Key Facts. ###### World Economic Outlook Update, October 2025: Three Essential Questions. ###### Press Briefing: World Economic Outlook, October 2025. ###### World Economic Outlook, October 2025: Key Facts. ###### World Economic Outlook Update, October 2025: Three Essential Questions. ###### Press Briefing: World Economic Outlook, October 2025. ###### World Economic Outlook, October 2025: Key Facts. Regional Economic Outlook Reports, All Regions.
. . * [Assumptions and Conventions](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/assumandconv.pdf). * [Executive Summary](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/execsum.pdf). * [Foreword](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/foreword.pdf). * [IMF Executive Board Discussion of the Outlook](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/execboard.pdf). * [Blog](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/04/14/war-darkens-global-economic-outlook-and-reshapes-policy-priorities). * [April 2026 Database](https://data.imf.org/en/datasets/IMF.RES:WEO). [Download Table](https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/publications/weo/2026/april/english/weo-april-2026-projections-table.jpg). . [](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch1.pdf). * [Read Chapter 1](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch1.pdf). * [Chapter 1 Data](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/data/ch1data.xlsx). * [Online Annex](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch1onlineannex.pdf). * [Blog](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/04/14/war-darkens-global-economic-outlook-and-reshapes-policy-priorities). * [April 2026 Database](https://data.imf.org/en/datasets/IMF.RES:WEO). [](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch2.pdf). * [Read Chapter 2](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch2.pdf). * [Chapter 2 Data](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/data/ch2data.xlsx). * [Chapters 2 and 3 Blog](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/04/08/wars-impose-lasting-economic-costs-while-more-defense-spending-means-hard-choices?cid=wp-com-sm26-WEOEA2026001). * [Online Annexes](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch2onlineannex.pdf). [](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch3.pdf). * [Read Chapter 3](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch3.pdf). * [Chapter 3 Data](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/data/ch3data.xlsx). * [Chapters 2 and 3 Blog](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/04/08/wars-impose-lasting-economic-costs-while-more-defense-spending-means-hard-choices?cid=wp-com-sm26-WEOEA2026001). * [online annexes](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2026/april/english/ch3onlineannex.pdf). ###### [Statistical Appendix:](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/statsappendix.ashx). [Data assumptions, conventions, and classifications](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/statsappendix.ashx). ###### [Statistical Appendix A:](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/tableA.ashx). [Key Global Economic Indicators](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/tableA.ashx). ###### [Statistical Appendix B:](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/tableB.ashx). [Supplemental Global Economic Indicators](https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WEO/2026/April/English/tableB.ashx). [](/en/publications/weo). [](/en/publications/gfsr). [](/en/publications/fm). [](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO).
Most members clearly weighted the risks to the labor market more heavily than those of inflation, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, though he did so while chanting the mantra that “there is no risk-free path for policy.” [[1](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/us-economy-2026-what-watch#1)]. Taken together, this research finds little indication that AI has impacted aggregate U.S. labor market conditions so far.[[8](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/us-economy-2026-what-watch#8)] Although unemployment has increased, it has risen most among workers in occupations with the least AI exposure, suggesting that other factors are at play. As two of us (Bernstein and Cummings) have written,[[11](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/us-economy-2026-what-watch#11)] there are certainly bubbly features: Valuations of AI-exposed firms have risen sharply even as revenue from AI-specific products and services remains limited. For example, Joseph Briggs of Goldman Sachs estimates[[12](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/us-economy-2026-what-watch#12)] that generative AI could create $8 trillion of value for U.S. firms through labor productivity gains. Analysis suggests that higher wholesale power costs, investment to replace aging grid infrastructure, extreme weather events, state policies such as net-metered solar and renewable energy standards, and rising demand from data centers and electric vehicles have all contributed to higher prices.[[14](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/us-economy-2026-what-watch#14)].