PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, economic activity within the OECD region experienced a modest uptick. The gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, a slight rise from 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 reported economic expansion. Three economies showed no change from the previous quarter.
Ireland registered the most significant quarterly increase, with GDP climbing by 3.9%. Close behind, Israel’s economy grew by 3.6%, both figures well above the overall OECD average. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile reported no change in their economic output during this period. When considering the entire OECD, GDP rose by 2.3% year-on-year, accelerating from the 1.7% growth observed in the first quarter.
The G7 major economies showed a different trend. Their combined GDP increased by 0.3% in the second quarter, down from 0.4% in the previous quarter. Germany and Italy each experienced a 0.2% expansion, while Japan’s economy grew by 0.3%. The United Kingdom and the United States posted growth figures of 0.4% each. Canada led with a stronger increase of 0.8%, and France returned to growth with a 0.2% rise after a contraction in the previous quarter.
G7 Countries Show Varied Performance in Second-Quarter Results
Several key economies displayed slower growth due to shifts in domestic demand and trade dynamics during the quarter. Japan experienced stagnant private consumption, accompanied by declines in inventories and investment. In the United Kingdom, subdued private and government consumption contributed to the slower pace. Similarly, the United States faced weaker export growth, reductions in inventories, and lower government spending, all of which collectively dampened the overall G7 growth rate.
Canada achieved the largest quarterly growth among G7 nations, moving from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8%. France also saw an uptick after a 0.1% contraction in the first quarter, with its economy expanding by 0.2% in the second quarter. These results stand in contrast to the much faster increases seen in Ireland and Israel, whereas Austria, Belgium, and Chile experienced no change from the previous three months.
OECD’s Yearly Growth Rate Reaches 2.3%, Up from Earlier Periods
The annual data indicates a quicker pace of economic growth across the broader group of member countries. The OECD’s GDP was 2.3% higher than its level in the second quarter of 2025, compared to a 1.7% increase in the first quarter. Among the G7 nations, the United States experienced the strongest annual growth at 2.1%, while Japan’s increase was the lowest at 0.5%.
The OECD described these second-quarter estimates as provisional. The data was compiled from countries with available GDP figures. The August 24 report included 30 member economies, providing both quarterly and yearly comparisons. The organization plans to publish its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. Despite softer performance among the G7, the overall OECD area shows slightly stronger growth figures for this period.