Following several downgrades to the global outlook due to the ongoing war in the Middle East there are signs that spending on Artificial Intelligence is buttressing global growth. GDP growth in key economies in Asia and the United States is benefiting from spending on ICT equipment, R&D, and other AI-adjacent goods and services. While this trend will not fully offset the effects of the war, it should dampen the severity of its impact.
The Conference Board maintains its 2.7% y/y forecast for global GDP growth in 2026 and raises its outlook for 2027 by 0.1 percentage points to 3.0% y/y. If the conflict in the Middle East is resolved quickly, or if AI spending intensifies and broadens, there are upside risks to our projections. However, the reverse also holds true.

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