I.M.F. Raises Forecast for Global Growth as Tariff Drag Fades

The New York Times • January 19, 2026 • business

Key Points:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects global economic growth to remain steady at 3.3% in 2026, a 0.2 percentage point increase from its October forecast, driven by strong investment in artificial intelligence and technology.
Growth is expected to slow slightly to 3.2% in 2027, while global inflation is forecasted to decrease to 3.8% in 2026 from 4.1% in 2025.
The IMF highlights the resilience of the global economy despite challenges from wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as trade disruptions caused by tariffs imposed during the Trump administration.
The impact of tariffs has been less severe than initially anticipated due to exemptions