PARIS / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the OECD region experienced a slight uptick in economic activity, with the majority of member nations showing expansion. The gross domestic product increased by 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, which is an improvement from the 0.4% growth observed in the first three months. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that 27 out of 30 countries with available data experienced growth, while three economies showed no change quarter-over-quarter.
Ireland recorded the most substantial quarterly rise among the nations included in the latest statistics, with GDP climbing 3.9%. Israel followed closely with 3.6%, both well above the overall OECD average. Conversely, Austria, Belgium, and Chile experienced no change in economic output during this period. On an annual basis, GDP across the OECD grew by 2.3%, increasing from 1.7% in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the G7 major economies showed different trends. The combined G7 GDP grew by 0.3% during the quarter, slightly below the previous 0.4%. Germany and Italy each saw a 0.2% rise, with Japan increasing by 0.3%. Both the United Kingdom and the United States registered growth of 0.4%. Canada experienced a more robust increase of 0.8%, and France returned to growth with a 0.2% expansion.
Mixed Outcomes for G7 Economies in Q2
Several leading economies reported slower growth, influenced by shifts in domestic demand and trade components. Japan’s private consumption remained stagnant, while inventories and investment declined. Similarly, the United Kingdom faced a slowdown driven by decreased private and government consumption. The United States also encountered reduced export growth, inventory reductions, and lower government spending, which contributed to the overall deceleration of G7 growth.
Among G7 nations, Canada achieved the largest quarterly gain, moving from zero growth in Q1 to 0.8%. France also showed improvement after contracting 0.1% in the first quarter; its economy expanded by 0.2% in Q2. These results stand in contrast to the more rapid growth seen in Ireland and Israel, while Austria, Belgium, and Chile experienced no change from the previous three months.
OECD’s Annual Output Growth Climbs to 2.3%
Looking at the year-on-year figures, the broader group of OECD countries demonstrated an accelerated economic expansion. The OECD’s GDP was 2.3% higher than in the second quarter of 2025, up from a 1.7% increase in the first quarter. The United States led the G7, with the strongest annual growth at 2.1%. Japan recorded the smallest increase among G7 nations, at just 0.5%.
The OECD described these second-quarter figures as provisional, noting that the analysis was based on countries with available GDP data. Its August 24 report covered 30 member economies, offering both quarterly and yearly comparisons. The organization intends to publish its next GDP growth update on November 19, 2026. Despite the softer performance among G7 members, the overall OECD data indicates somewhat stronger growth during this period.