IMF dials down '26 global growth forecast on Mid-East hostilities

Citing the economic impact globally of the continuing Middle East conflict, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised down its global growth forecast for 2026 by 0.2 percentage point from its January prediction to 3.1%, according to its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) updated on April 14.

In parallel, the IMF has scaled up its forecast for global headline inflation for 2026 to 4.4%, up 0.6 percentage point from the Fund's January prediction. The size of its downward adjustment for 2026 growth from the Middle East conflict has been tempered by "recent strong data and reduced tariff