Economic analyses indicate that investments in artificial intelligence (AI) are contributing to the global economy's resilience this year, performing better than initial expectations. Concurrently, the energy crisis is intensifying, casting a shadow over economic forecasts for 2027, according to the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). According to the organization's interim report on economic outlook, following a 3.4 percent growth last year, the global economy is projected to slow, with growth reaching 2.9 percent in 2026. This forecast represents a
slight improvement compared to June's projections of 2.8 percent growth. As 2027 approaches, the commodity price crisis, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is expected to negatively impact global economic momentum. The OECD anticipates global growth to
rise to only 3 percent, a decrease from June's forecast of 3.1 percent. The organization highlighted that substantial spending on AI infrastructure, ranging from data centers to semiconductors, has formed a crucial pillar for economic robustness this year. This expenditure has
boosted growth in the United States and contributed to an increase in technology exports from Japan and Korea. However, the OECD cautioned that the global economic landscape is shrouded in significant uncertainty due to potential sharp fluctuations in the energy market,
predictions of extreme weather events linked to a strong El Niño phenomenon, rising government bond yields, and the possibility of underperforming AI investments. Should these risks materialize, the organization estimates they could collectively reduce global growth by 0.7 percentage points
next year and increase global inflation by 1.1 percentage points. In the OECD's baseline scenario, inflation in G20 economies is expected to reach 4.1 percent in 2026, an increase from June's forecast of 4 percent. The organization also raised its inflation
outlook for 2027 to 3.6 percent from 3.1 percent in June, suggesting that this might compel central banks to adjust interest rates if price pressures broaden or economic growth falters. **Divergent Outlooks for Major Economies** In the United States, the world's largest
economy, growth is projected to be 2.2 percent this year and 2.1 percent in 2027, both higher than June's forecasts. This performance is attributed to intensive AI-related investment offsetting weaker consumer spending. U.S. inflation is expected to reach 3.6 percent
in 2026 before declining to 2.6 percent in 2027, as tariffs and higher energy prices continue to pressure household purchasing power and corporate costs. China's growth, meanwhile, is expected to decelerate to 4.5 percent this year and 4.2 percent in 2027,
figures unchanged from June's projections. This comes as government restrictions on industrial overcapacity affect investment, even as consumption faces a gradual rise in inflation. In the Eurozone, growth is anticipated to stabilize at 1 percent in both 2026 and 2027, with
energy prices and high interest rates impacting economic activity before new defense spending initiatives provide support. Inflation in the region is projected to be 3 percent this year and 2.9 percent in 2027, partly driven by a sharp jump in
natural gas prices, at a time when European storage levels are at a 15-year low approaching the winter heating season. For Japan's economy, growth is expected to be 0.8 percent in 2026 and 0.7 percent in 2027, as higher interest rates
and more expensive energy imports offset strong business investments. Unlike most other major economies, inflation in Japan is projected to accelerate to 2.6 percent in 2027 from 1.8 percent this year, reflecting a tight labor market and robust wage growth. In
Canada, the OECD lowered its growth forecast for 2026 to 0.9 percent from 1.2 percent in June and also reduced its forecast for 2027 to 1.3 percent from 1.7 percent, primarily due to new U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian exports.
