This reflects a mixed picture across the 28 OECD countries for which data was available. In Q1 2026, 20 countries recorded growth, but at varying rates, while two saw no change in GDP and six recorded contractions.
Looking at G7 countries, growth accelerated in the United Kingdom and the United States, from 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent in Q4 2025 to 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent in Q1 2026 respectively.
GDP growth in the OECD area increased slightly to 0.4 per cent in Q1 2026, up from 0.2 per cent in the previous quarter, according to provisional official estimates.
Twenty countries recorded growth, but at varying rates, while two saw no change in GDP and six recorded contractions.
Year on year, OECD GDP growth increased slightly in Q1 2026 compared with Q4 2025, from 1.7 per cent to 1.8 per cent.
The acceleration in the United Kingdom mainly reflected increases in private and government consumption, while in the United States, rebounds in government consumption and exports as well as increased investment supported economic growth, an OECD release said.
Growth also increased in Japan, from 0.2 per cent in Q4 2025 to 0.5 per cent in Q1 2026, and more marginally in Germany, from 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent.
In Canada, growth rebounded to 0.4 per cent in Q1 2026 after a contraction of 0.2 per cent in the previous quarter.
By contrast, France recorded no growth in Q1 2026 after expanding by 0.2 per cent in the previous quarter, as decreases in private consumption, investment and exports weighed on economic activity.
Growth slowed in Italy from 0.3 per cent in Q4 2025 to 0.2 per cent in Q1 2026 as domestic demand decreased.
Among other OECD countries, South Korea recorded the highest quarter-on-quarter growth rate in Q1 2026 (1.7 per cent), followed by Finland (0.9 per cent) and Hungary and Switzerland (0.8 per cent in both countries).
In contrast, Ireland continued to show the largest contraction (minus 2.0 per cent), followed by Israel and Mexico (minus 0.8 per cent in both countries).
Year on year, OECD GDP growth increased slightly in Q1 2026 compared with Q4 2025, from 1.7 per cent to 1.8 per cent. Among G7 economies, the United States recorded the highest annual increase (2.7 per cent), while Germany recorded the lowest (0.3 per cent).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
