IMF warns global economy is nearing the limits of its resilience

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the global economy’s capacity to withstand fresh shocks is coming under strain.

Worldwide growth has exceeded expectations and maintained stability despite the war in the Middle East and surging oil prices.

However, some policymakers worry that dwindling energy reserves, rising debt burdens, and a growing reliance on the artificial intelligence boom will leave the world increasingly vulnerable.

In a blog post, IMF economic counsellor Silvana Tenreyro wrote: “Without strengthening supply capacity and rebuilding policy buffers, the global economy may soon test the limits of its resilience.”

Tenreyro added:

“While tech-related investments are an important advantage against the energy shock, they concentrate risks, making global growth excessively dependent on a small number of companies, sectors, and economies.”

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has helped offset the economic fallout of the war.

Yet a sharp reversal could leave global GDP 1.1% below the IMF’s baseline forecast by 2028.

US GDP could take an even larger hit of 1.8%.

This scenario assumes that the productivity gains promised by AI fail to materialise, triggering a pullback in investment and a correction in financial markets.

Continued investment in artificial intelligence could also fuel inflation, leading to renewed interest rate increases.

Conversely, a stronger AI investment boom coupled with faster productivity gains could lift global GDP 0.6% above the baseline forecast by 2029.

The IMF largely maintained its global growth projections despite prolonged energy disruptions stemming from the Middle East war.

However, it now expects higher inflation both this year and next year.

The IMF projects global growth of 3.1% in 2026, unchanged from its April forecast, and anticipates 3.4% in 2027, representing a 0.2 percentage point upward revision.

The fund projects that the US economy will expand by 2.3% in both years, marking the fastest growth among G7 economies. The 2027 forecast was revised upwards by 0.2 percentage points.

Global inflation is expected to reach 4.7% in 2026 before easing to 4.1% in 2027.

Driven by the adverse impact of surging energy and food prices, both inflation projections were revised upwards compared with April.

The world had managed the energy shock partly by drawing down oil reserves and rerouting supply sources.

According to the IMF, global oil inventories are declining by approximately 2.7 million barrels per day, elevating the risk of a sharp price spike.

These projections provide the backdrop for global finance officials and central bankers gathering in Bangkok this week for the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank.

The IMF underestimated global growth projections for three consecutive years, raising questions over whether economies have become better at weathering shocks.