Global economy could weaken this year, say half of world’s top economists

Just over half of the world’s top economists think global economic conditions will weaken this year, a report by the World Economic Forum has found.

Its survey found that 53% of chief economists expect global economic conditions will weaken in the year ahead – which marks an improvement compared with 72% who said so in September 2025.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the stock market too: 52% said they expect AI-related stocks to fall, but 40% think that there will be further gains.

Nearly a third of the economists polled said they were concerned about sovereign debt crises in advanced economies.

Most of the economists said they expected either moderate or strong growth in South and East Asia, but more than half believed Europe faces “weak” growth in the year ahead.

There was however wide agreement that defence spending will increase this year, with 97% of chief economists anticipating rises in advanced economies and 74% in emerging markets.

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