Global Growth Slows to 2.6% in First Half of 2026 Amid Middle East Conflict
Global economic growth eased in the first half of the year, down from 3.6% in the second half of 2025, according to a new report.
Global economic growth slowed to 2.6% in the first half of 2026, down from 3.6% in the latter half of 2025, according to a report cited by Anadolu Agency. The slowdown coincides with ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The figures point to a notable deceleration in worldwide economic activity over a roughly six-month period, though the report does not attribute the entire slowdown to a single cause.
Conflict as a drag on activity
Ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East have been cited as a contributing factor to the slower pace of global growth, likely reflecting disruptions to trade, energy markets, and investor confidence in affected regions and beyond.
Economic growth figures of this kind are typically compiled from a range of national statistics and international forecasts, and can be subject to revision as more complete data becomes available.
The report did not provide a detailed regional breakdown of which economies contributed most to the slowdown.
Sources
- Global growth slows amid Middle East conflict — Anadolu Agency (Turkey)
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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