PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the OECD recorded a modest increase in economic activity, with gross domestic product climbing by 0.5% from the previous quarter. This follows a 0.4% rise in the first quarter, based on provisional estimates issued on August 24. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicated that out of 30 countries with available data, 27 experienced growth during this period. The remaining three economies saw no change in GDP.
Overall, the latest data reveal a general expansion across the OECD nations, though growth rates differ significantly among members. Ireland achieved the highest quarter-on-quarter increase at 3.9%, with Israel close behind at 3.6%. In contrast, Austria, Belgium, and Chile showed no variation in output for the quarter. The regional figures also highlight a stronger yearly performance, with OECD GDP being 2.3% higher than a year earlier, compared to 1.7% growth in the first quarter.
The G7 economies underperformed relative to the broader OECD. G7 GDP growth slowed to 0.3% in the second quarter from 0.4% in the first. Germany and Italy each grew by 0.2%, while Japan’s expansion reached 0.3%. Both the United Kingdom and the United States experienced quarterly growth of 0.4%. Canada saw a notable acceleration to 0.8% following a flat performance in the previous quarter, whereas France reverted to 0.2% growth after contracting by 0.1%.
G7 Growth Decelerates as Canada Gains Momentum
The slowdown among five G7 nations reflected weaker activity in several key sectors of economic output. Japan’s private consumption remained unchanged, inventories declined, and investment fell. In the United Kingdom, private consumption weakened alongside a dip in government spending. Similarly, the United States experienced sluggish export growth, inventory reductions, and decreased government expenditure, all contributing to a slower quarterly expansion. Consequently, the overall G7 growth rate eased even as the broader OECD region maintained a slightly faster pace.
The most pronounced contrasts appeared in Canada and France. Canada’s economy shifted from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8% growth in the second. Meanwhile, France reversed a 0.1% contraction in the first quarter, expanding by 0.2%. Beyond these, Ireland and Israel recorded notably stronger quarterly gains compared to other OECD nations. The three countries with unchanged GDP were Austria, Belgium, and Chile.
OECD’s Annual Growth Rises to 2.3%
Looking at year-on-year figures, the second quarter demonstrated a broader acceleration within the OECD. GDP was 2.3% higher than in the same period of 2025, up from 1.7% annual growth in the first quarter. Among G7 members, the United States led with an annual increase of 2.1%, while Japan’s growth was the weakest at 0.5%. This annual comparison provides a separate perspective from the quarter-on-quarter changes in economic output.
The OECD classified the second-quarter figures as provisional. The release covered 30 member countries for which second-quarter GDP data were available at the time. The organization has scheduled its next quarterly GDP update for November 19, 2026. As of now, the August data remain the most recent comprehensive measure of second-quarter growth across the available member economies, showing an overall faster expansion despite a slowdown among the G7 countries.