PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, economic activity across OECD nations experienced a modest uptick, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter. This follows a 0.4% growth in the first quarter, based on preliminary estimates issued on August 24. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development noted that 27 out of 30 countries with available data showed expansion during this period. The remaining three economies’ GDP figures remained unchanged.
The newest data indicates widespread growth throughout the OECD, though the pace of expansion varied considerably among member states. Ireland experienced the fastest quarter-on-quarter rise at 3.9%, with Israel close behind at 3.6%. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile reported no change in their output levels during this quarter. The regional figures also point to a stronger yearly performance, as OECD GDP was 2.3% higher than in the same period last year, compared to 1.7% growth in the first quarter.
G7 economies underperformed relative to the broader OECD trend. Their combined 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 stood at 0.3%. The United Kingdom and the United States both recorded 0.4% growth quarter-on-quarter. Canada experienced a notable acceleration, reaching 0.8% after no growth in the previous quarter. France rebounded from a 0.1% contraction in the first quarter to post 0.2% growth.
G7 economies experience slowdown amid Canada’s growth boost
The deceleration across five G7 nations reflected weaker performance in key components of economic output. In Japan, private consumption remained flat, inventories decreased, and investment declined. The United Kingdom saw declines in private and government consumption. In the United States, weaker export growth, reductions in inventories, and lower government spending contributed to the slowdown. Despite this, the OECD area as a whole saw a slightly faster overall pace of growth.
The most striking contrasts appeared in Canada and France. Canada’s economy shifted from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8% in the second. Meanwhile, France reversed a 0.1% contraction from the previous quarter, expanding by 0.2%. Other countries like Ireland and Israel posted considerably stronger quarterly gains compared to their peers within the OECD. The only three countries with flat GDP figures were Austria, Belgium, and Chile.
OECD’s annual growth rate climbs to 2.3%
On an annual basis, the second-quarter data demonstrates a broader acceleration across the OECD. Overall GDP was 2.3% higher than the same period in 2025, up from 1.7% annual growth seen in the first quarter. Among G7 members, the United States registered the highest yearly increase at 2.1%. Japan’s year-on-year growth was the slowest in the group, at 0.5%. These annual figures provide a different perspective from the quarter-on-quarter output changes.
The OECD classified these second-quarter estimates as provisional. The report covered 30 member nations with available second-quarter GDP data at the time of publication. The organization plans to release its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. The August figures remain the latest comprehensive measure of second-quarter growth among the member countries, showing a faster overall expansion despite slower growth among the G7.