California\u2019s economy remains No. 4 on the global stage \u2013 barely!<\/p>\n
My trusty spreadsheet once again looked into a vanity scorecard that compares the state\u2019s gross domestic product, a broad measure of business output, with the International Monetary Fund\u2019s tracking of GDP by nation.\u00a0This is\u00a0the hook for Californians who brag that the state has the world\u2019s fourth-largest economy.<\/p>\n
California\u2019s economy ran at a $4.4 trillion annual rate for the first quarter. That GDP pace would barely keep it at No. 4, based on the IMF\u2019s April forecasts of global economic performance for the year.<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s top three economies have stable rankings: No. 1 U.S. ($32 trillion in GDP for 2026), followed by China ($21 trillion) and Germany ($5.5 trillion).<\/p>\n
Then it gets tight.<\/p>\n
California starts 2026 a smidge ahead of Japan\u2019s $4.38 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom\u2019s $4.26 trillion and India\u2019s $4.15 trillion.<\/p>\n
Just $250 billion of business output \u2013 or roughly a 6% gap \u2013 separates California and these three nations.<\/p>\n
The BEA reports state GDP figures quarterly, and the IMF\u2019s next world forecast is in October. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com<\/a><\/p>\n