PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the OECD countries experienced a modest increase in economic activity, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter. This follows a 0.4% growth in the first quarter, based on provisional estimates issued on August 24. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that 27 of the 30 nations with available data saw expansion during this period, while GDP remained steady in the remaining three economies.
The latest data indicates widespread growth across the OECD region, although the pace of expansion differed significantly among member countries. Ireland experienced the highest quarter-on-quarter increase at 3.9%, followed by Israel at 3.6%. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile recorded no change in their output during the quarter. The regional figures also reflect a stronger yearly performance, with OECD GDP being 2.3% higher than in the same quarter of 2025. This compares to an annual growth rate of 1.7% in the first quarter.
The performance of the G7 economies was weaker than the broader OECD results. Combined G7 GDP growth slowed to 0.3% in the second quarter, down from 0.4% in the first. Germany and Italy each grew by 0.2%, while Japan’s expansion reached 0.3%. The United Kingdom and the United States posted quarterly increases of 0.4%. Canada accelerated from zero growth in the prior quarter to 0.8%, and France moved from a 0.1% contraction to a 0.2% growth rate.
G7 Growth Decelerates as Canada Accelerates
The slowdown across five G7 countries reflected a decline in several key output components. In Japan, private consumption remained flat, inventories decreased, and investment dropped. The United Kingdom experienced weaker private and government consumption. Similarly, the United States saw slower export growth, inventory reductions, and diminished government spending, which collectively dampened its quarterly growth. Consequently, G7 growth eased even as the broader OECD area registered a marginally faster expansion.
The most notable contrasts were seen in Canada and France. Canada’s economy shifted from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8% in the second. France rebounded from a 0.1% contraction in the first quarter to achieve a 0.2% increase. Elsewhere, Ireland and Israel recorded considerably stronger quarterly gains than other OECD countries available in the sample. The three economies with unchanged GDP figures were Austria, Belgium, and Chile.
Annual OECD Growth Climbs to 2.3%
On an annual basis, the second-quarter data reveal a broader acceleration in growth across the OECD. GDP was 2.3% higher than in the same period of 2025, compared to 1.7% annual growth in the first quarter. Among G7 nations, the United States led with a 2.1% yearly increase. Japan experienced the slowest annual growth among them at 0.5%. The annual comparison provides an alternative perspective to the quarter-on-quarter shifts in economic performance.
The OECD characterized the second-quarter estimates as provisional. The release covered 30 member countries with available second-quarter GDP data at the time. The organization plans to publish its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. As of August, these figures represent the latest comprehensive measure of second-quarter growth across the member economies, showing an overall faster expansion despite a slight slowdown among the G7 countries.