PARIS / RankWire.AI / – Economic activity across the OECD region experienced a modest acceleration in the second quarter of 2026 as most member nations reported growth. The gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, surpassing the 0.4% growth recorded in the first three months. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 27 of the 30 countries with available data experienced expansion. Meanwhile, three economies saw no change in their quarterly output.
Ireland posted the most substantial quarterly rise among the nations included in the latest data, with GDP climbing by 3.9%. Israel followed closely with a 3.6% increase, both significantly above the overall OECD average. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile reported stagnant economic output during this period. Overall, for the entire OECD region, GDP grew by 2.3% from the same quarter in the previous year, marking an acceleration from the 1.7% annual growth in the first quarter.
The G7 major economies showed a different trend, with their combined GDP increasing by only 0.3% in the second quarter, down from 0.4% in the prior period. Germany and Italy each experienced 0.2% growth, while Japan grew by 0.3%. The United Kingdom and the United States both saw an expansion of 0.4%. Canada achieved a stronger growth rate of 0.8%, and France returned to positive growth with a 0.2% rise.
Mixed Results for G7 Economies in the Second Quarter
Several key economies recorded slower growth, driven by changes in domestic demand and trade activity during the quarter. Japan’s private consumption remained flat, with declines in inventories and investment. In the United Kingdom, reduced private and government consumption contributed to the slowdown. Similarly, the United States experienced weaker export growth, inventory reductions, and lower government spending, which collectively slowed the G7’s overall growth rate.
Canada achieved the largest quarter-over-quarter increase among G7 nations, jumping from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8%. France also saw improvement after contracting 0.1% in the first quarter, with a GDP expansion of 0.2% in the second quarter. These results stand out compared to Ireland and Israel, which experienced more rapid growth, while Austria, Belgium, and Chile maintained no change from the previous three months.
OECD Reports 2.3% Rise in Yearly Output
The annual figures indicate a faster pace of economic growth across the broader group of member nations. OECD GDP increased by 2.3% compared to the second quarter of 2025, up from a 1.7% rise in the first quarter. Among the G7 countries, the United States recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 2.1%, while Japan experienced the slowest at 0.5%.
The OECD classified the second-quarter estimates as provisional, relying on data from countries with available GDP figures. Its August 24 report included 30 member economies and offered both quarterly and annual comparisons. The organization intends to publish its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. Despite a softer combined performance among G7 nations, the data shows slightly stronger growth across the entire OECD region.