PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the OECD area experienced a modest uptick in economic activity as most of its reporting member countries expanded. The gross domestic product increased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, slightly higher than the 0.4% growth observed in the first three months. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that 27 out of 30 countries with available data saw economic expansion. Meanwhile, three economies registered no change in quarterly output.
Ireland recorded the most significant quarterly rise among the nations included in the latest figures, with GDP climbing by 3.9%. Israel followed closely, with growth reaching 3.6%, both surpassing the overall OECD average. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile experienced no variation in their economic output during the second quarter. Overall, the OECD’s GDP grew 2.3% year-over-year, an acceleration from the 1.7% annual growth noted in the first quarter.
In contrast, the G7 major economies demonstrated mixed results for the same period. The combined GDP of G7 nations increased by 0.3% in the quarter, a slight decrease from the 0.4% recorded previously. Germany and Italy each grew by 0.2%, while Japan’s economy expanded by 0.3%. The United Kingdom and United States each experienced 0.4% growth, with Canada seeing a more robust 0.8% rise. France returned to growth with an expansion of 0.2% after a contraction earlier in the year.
Mixed Outcomes for G7 Economies in the Second Quarter
A slowdown was evident in several prominent economies, driven by shifts in domestic demand and trade activity during the quarter. Japan saw stagnant private consumption, alongside declines in inventories and investment. In the United Kingdom, weaker private spending and reduced government consumption contributed to the slower growth pace. Similarly, the United States experienced diminished export growth, inventory reductions, and lower government expenditure. These factors collectively led to a deceleration in G7’s overall growth.
Canada achieved the largest quarterly increase among G7 members, moving from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8%. France also improved, reversing a 0.1% contraction in the opening quarter and expanding by 0.2% in the second quarter. These results contrasted with the much faster growth rates in Ireland and Israel, while Austria, Belgium, and Chile showed no change compared to the previous three months.
OECD’s Annual GDP Growth Accelerates to 2.3%
Looking at the yearly figures, the broader group of OECD member countries experienced a quicker pace of economic expansion. The OECD’s GDP was 2.3% higher than in the second quarter of 2025, up from a 1.7% increase in the first quarter. Among the G7 nations, the United States recorded the highest annual growth at 2.1%, while Japan posted the lowest at 0.5%.
The OECD described these second-quarter estimates as provisional and based on data from countries with available GDP figures. Its August 24 release included 30 member economies, offering both quarterly and annual comparisons. The organization plans to publish its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. Despite a softer performance among G7 economies, the overall OECD growth figures indicate a modest strengthening of economic activity across the member countries.