World Economic Forum Names India Strongest Global Growth Outlook

The World Economic Forum reported in its September 2026 Chief Economists' Outlook that the global economy is stabilizing, with 56% of surveyed economists expecting conditions to remain stable or improve. India emerged with the strongest growth outlook among all covered geographies, with 74% of economists anticipating strong or very strong growth over the next 12 months. This positive trajectory is driven by resilient domestic demand, though high energy prices continue to weigh on the outlook.

While global sentiment has improved, 97% of respondents cite geopolitical conflicts as the primary source of uncertainty. The report highlights a shift in economic resilience; whereas government fiscal support was critical since 2020, future stability is expected to rely on technological innovation, flexible supply chains, and energy-market adaptation. AI adoption is projected to increase productivity, though 79% of economists warn that data center expansion will face community opposition and increase utility prices.

Regional outlooks remain divergent. The United States remains the most favorable business environment, while Europe is identified as the weakest region, with 61% of economists anticipating weak or very weak growth. Separately, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development forecasted global growth of 2.9% for 2026, noting that AI infrastructure investment has boosted the U.S. economy but warning that Middle East conflicts could trigger commodity price shocks.