United Nations to launch 2026 report on the global economy 

Press briefing live on UN WebTV 

 

The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 will present global and regional economic outlooks for the year ahead, highlighting the need for global cooperation and policies to support growth and advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The report finds that the world economy faces the risk of a prolonged period of slower growth compared with the pre-pandemic era, with current growth failing to deliver broad-based development gains, leaving many countries, communities, and households behind. 

Geopolitical risks, continuing policy uncertainty and fiscal challenges cloud the global economic outlook. In 2025, a sharp rise in United States tariffs unsettled the trade environment, but the world economy proved more resilient than expected. In 2026, global growth is expected to moderate as weaker international trade is only partially offset by continued support from monetary easing.  

Inflation has eased considerably in most economies, yet rising cost of living continue to strain household budgets and exacerbating inequality. Risks of renewed supply disruptions remain elevated — stemming from conflicts, climate related disasters, trade fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions — adding to global uncertainty.  

WHAT: 

Press briefing to launch the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026

WHO:

  • Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, UN DESA (on behalf of Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr. Li Junhua)
  • Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA
  • Ingo Pitterle, Senior Economist and Officer-in-Charge, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA

WHEN: Thursday, 8 January 2026, 12:45 pm EST

WHERE: UN Press Briefing Room, S-237 (Live on http://webtv.un.org)

The report will be available on 8 January 2026, 12:45 pm EST at desapublications.un.org once the embargo has been lifted.  

Media contacts:  

  • Martin Samaan, UN Department of Global Communications, samaanm@un.org 
  • Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, rosengrenh@un.org 

EXPERT INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES 

Global Outlook 

  • Mr. Shantanu Mukherjee, Director, Economic Analysis and Policy Division (English) 
  • Mr. Ingo Pitterle, Officer-in-Charge, Global Economic Monitoring Branch (English, German) 
  • Mr. Grigor Agabekian, Economic Affairs Officer (Russian) 
  • Ms. Zhenqian Huang, Economic Affairs Officer (Chinese) 
  • Mr. Sebastian Vergara, Economic Affairs Officer (Spanish)  

Regional Outlooks 

Africa 

  • Ms. Katarzyna Rokosz, Associate Economic Affairs Officer (English, Polish) 
  • Mr. Julian Slotman, Associate Economic Affairs Officer (English, Dutch) 
  • Mr. Yasuhisa Yamamoto, Economic Affairs Officer (English) 

North America 

  • Mr. Yasuhisa Yamamoto, Economic Affairs Officer (English) 

East Asia 

  • Ms. Zhenqian Huang, Economic Affairs Officer (English, Chinese) 

South Asia 

  • Ms. Danyira Perez, Associate Economic Affairs Officer (English, Spanish) 

Western Asia 

  • Ms. Berna Dogan, Economic Affairs Officer (English) 

Europe, Economies in transition & Commonwealth of Independent States 

  • Mr. Ingo Pitterle, Senior Economic Affairs Officer (English, German) 
  • Mr. Grigor Agabekian, Economic Affairs Officer (English, Russian) 

Latin America & the Caribbean 

  • Mr. Sebastian Vergara, Economic Affairs Officer (English, Spanish)