PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the OECD region experienced a modest uptick in economic activity as most member nations reported growth. Gross domestic product increased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, slightly higher than the 0.4% rise seen in the first quarter. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 27 out of 30 countries with available data showed expansion, while three saw no change in their quarterly figures.
Ireland recorded the most significant quarterly increase with a 3.9% rise in GDP, followed by Israel with 3.6%, both well above the OECD average. Meanwhile, Austria, Belgium, and Chile reported no change in economic output during the same period. Over the course of the year, OECD GDP grew 2.3%, up from 1.7% in the first quarter.
In contrast, the G7 economies exhibited a decline in growth rates. The combined G7 GDP grew by 0.3% during the quarter, down from 0.4% previously. Germany and Italy each grew by 0.2%, Japan by 0.3%, while both the United Kingdom and the United States achieved 0.4%. Canada saw a more robust increase of 0.8%, and France returned to growth with a 0.2% expansion.
Mixed Outcomes for G7 Countries in Q2
Several key economies experienced decelerating growth due to shifts in domestic demand and trade. Japan faced stagnant private consumption alongside declines in inventories and investment. In the United Kingdom, weaker private and government consumption slowed quarterly growth. The United States also saw reduced export growth, inventory reductions, and lower government spending, leading to slower overall G7 growth.
Canada achieved the largest quarterly improvement among G7 members, jumping from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8%. France also showed positive momentum after contracting 0.1% earlier, with a 0.2% rise in the second quarter. These results contrasted sharply with Ireland and Israel’s rapid increases, whereas Austria, Belgium, and Chile experienced no change from the previous three months.
OECD’s Annual Growth Reaches 2.3%
The annual data reflect a faster economic expansion across the broader OECD group, with GDP rising 2.3% from the second quarter of 2025, compared to a 1.7% annual increase in the first quarter. The United States recorded the strongest yearly growth at 2.1%, while Japan’s increase was the lowest at 0.5% within the G7.
The OECD noted that the second-quarter figures are provisional, based on the available GDP data from member countries. Its August 24 report covered 30 member economies and included both quarterly and yearly comparisons. The organization intends to release its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. Despite softer performances among G7 economies, the overall OECD data indicates slightly stronger growth across the region.