Item 1 of 2 People enjoy their time on a hill overlooking Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
[1/2]People enjoy their time on a hill overlooking Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tabUN report says US economic growth forecast to edge up to 2.0% in 2026 and 2.2% in 2027In China, economy projected to grow by 4.6% in 2026 and 4.5% in 2027Growth in India forecast at 6.6% for 2026 and 6.7% for 2027
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Global economic growth is forecast to decline to 2.7% in 2026 from 2.8% last year before increasing to 2.9% in 2027 – still down from the pre-pandemic average of 3.2% between 2010 and 2019, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday.
The World Economic Situation and Prospects report said that while a sharp increase in U.S. tariffs in 2025 created new trade tensions, the absence of broader escalation has helped limit disruptions to international commerce.
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“Despite the tariff shock, global economic activity proved resilient, supported by front-loaded shipments, inventory accumulation,
and solid consumer spending amid monetary easing and broadly stable labor markets,” according to the report by the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
“Continued macroeconomic policy support is expected to cushion the impact of higher tariffs, but growth in trade and overall activity are likely to moderate in the near term,” it said.
U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH SEEN UP SLIGHTLY
The report said economic growth in the United States slowed to 1.9% in 2025 – from 2.8% in 2024 – and was forecast to edge up to 2.0% in 2026 and 2.2% in 2027, aided by expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. It said inflation would likely remain above the 2% target in 2026, “though it should gradually moderate as tariff effects wane and housing costs stabilize.”
In China, the economy was projected to grow by 4.6% in 2026 and 4.5% in 2027, down from an estimated 4.9% expansion in 2025.
“A temporary easing of trade tensions with the United States – including targeted tariff reductions and a one-year trade truce – has helped stabilize confidence, while policy support is expected to sustain domestic demand,” the report said.
Growth in the European Union was forecast at 1.3% in 2026 and 1.6% in 2027 – compared with 1.5% in 2025 – driven by resilient consumer spending. But higher U.S. tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty are likely to weigh on exports, the report said.
It said growth in South Asia was due to moderate to 5.6% in 2026, from 5.9% in 2025. It was forecast to return to 5.9% in 2027.
“India, growth is estimated at 7.4% for 2025 and forecast at 6.6% for 2026 and 6.7% for 2027, supported by resilient consumption and strong public investment, which should largely offset the adverse impact of higher United States tariffs,” the report said.
Reporting by Michelle Nichols
Editing by Rod Nickel
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