PARIS / RankWire.AI / – Economic activity across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations experienced a slight uplift in the second quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product increasing by 0.5% compared to the previous three months. This follows a 0.4% growth in the first quarter, based on initial estimates issued on August 24. Out of 30 countries with available data, 27 demonstrated expansion during this period, according to the OECD.
The latest statistics indicate a general upward trend across the OECD region, although growth rates among member states varied significantly. Ireland led with a 3.9% quarter-on-quarter rise, closely followed by Israel at 3.6%. In contrast, Austria, Belgium, and Chile saw no change in their output during the same period. The regional figures also reflected a stronger year-over-year performance, with OECD GDP being 2.3% higher than the same quarter in 2025. This compares to an annual growth rate of 1.7% in the first quarter.
The performance of the G7 economies was somewhat weaker than the broader OECD average. Combined G7 GDP growth slowed to 0.3% in the second quarter from 0.4% previously. Germany and Italy each increased by 0.2%, while Japan expanded by 0.3%. The United Kingdom and the United States both registered quarterly growth of 0.4%. Canada’s economy grew by 0.8% after experiencing no growth in the prior quarter, and France returned to 0.2% growth following a 0.1% contraction.
Canada’s Economy Accelerates While G7 Growth Decelerates
The slowdown among five G7 nations reflected subdued activity in key economic sectors. Japan experienced stagnant private consumption, falling inventories, and reduced investment. The United Kingdom faced weaker private and government consumption. In the United States, slower export growth, inventory reductions, and decreased government spending contributed to a deceleration. Therefore, even as the OECD overall showed a slightly faster expansion, G7 growth rates eased.
This contrast was most pronounced in Canada and France. Canada’s GDP shifted from zero growth in the first quarter to 0.8% in the second. Conversely, France reversed a 0.1% contraction from the previous quarter and saw a 0.2% increase. Ireland and Israel recorded notably stronger quarterly gains compared to other OECD nations. The three economies with unchanged GDP were Austria, Belgium, and Chile.
Annual Growth in OECD Reaches 2.3%
Year-on-year, the second quarter revealed a broader acceleration 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 members, the United States exhibited the highest annual increase at 2.1%, while Japan recorded the smallest at 0.5%. This annual comparison provides a separate perspective from the quarter-on-quarter changes in economic output.
The OECD noted that the second-quarter estimates are provisional. The release included data from 30 member countries for which second-quarter GDP figures were available at the time. The organization plans to publish its next quarterly GDP update on November 19, 2026. The August data remains its most recent comprehensive measure of second-quarter growth, reflecting a faster overall expansion alongside a slowdown in G7 aggregate growth.