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G20 finance ministers and central bank governors are gathering in Bangkok alongside the annual IMF and World Bank meetings, held October 12–18. At the meetings’ close, the IMF warned that war spillovers, inflation and debt are worsening pressures on poorer countries.
The IMF forecast for global economic growth in 2026
At IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and AI policy experts called for safeguards around artificial intelligence and discussed its potential effects on jobs, inequality and economic growth.
The IMF study estimated that 10% of jobs might be transformed or newly created.
The IMF said the UK's tax-to-GDP ratio is roughly 40%.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged wealthy nations, including the United States, to reduce debt and deficits, warning that global borrowing costs are worsening pressures on poorer countries. Several organizations also announced initiatives on jobs and cybercrime.
United States national debt
Andrew Bailey and Kristalina Georgieva warned that rising cyber fraud and attacks could weaken public trust in the financial system. They spoke at IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, where the Bangkok blueprint on preventing cyber fraud was launched.
The French supermarket hack heated fridges to 50°C.
UK GDP growth forecast for 2026
The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the Middle East and Central Asia economy will contract in 2026, citing disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the fallout from the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
AllegedThe IMF forecasts Middle East and Central Asia GDP to contract in 2026.
The IMF warned that a correction in AI-related share prices could spread across global markets and threaten financial stability. It identified AI valuations and debt, rising government borrowing costs, and a major cyber-attack as salient risks.
The seven largest named US technology stocks accounted for more than 35% of the S&P 500 share index.