The International Monetary Fund lowered its 2026 global economic growth forecast to 3%, from April’s 3.1% projection. The modest downgrade reflects the ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict and trade fragmentation but is partly offset by advances in artificial intelligence. However, the IMF expects growth to rebound to 3.4% in 2027. Meanwhile it also anticipates that global headline inflation will rise to 4.7% in 2026 – an increase from 4.1% in 2025 – before easing to 3.9% in 2027. [...]