Global Scans · Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] Europe will witness steady growth over the forecast period, with a share of nearly 14.7% globally in 2026, as organizations are focusing on energy efficiency, decarbonization, and regulatory compliance rather than only reducing utility costs. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Australia is well placed to participate in Life Sciences growth, but execution risk is increasing across various sectors. Hays Australia
• [New] Vietnam's exposure to foreign markets via international trade means risks to its economy skew towards a sharp growth slowdown, rather than outright stagflation featuring extreme price inflation. Fitch Solutions
• [New] We expect mineral and metal production growth in most markets in the Asia-Pacific region to continue, although the lower price outlook for some major commodities, including iron ore, will weigh on mining value growth in 2026. Fitch Solutions
• [New] Australia and the United Kingdom reaffirm the central role of gender equality in inclusive growth and climate resilience, and will deepen collaboration on gender-responsive climate finance in line with international commitments. Mirage News
• [New] East Asia is projected to see a moderation in growth to 4.4%, down from 4.9% the previous year, as the boost from front-loaded exports fades. UN Forecasts Subdued Global Growth of 2.7% in 2026 Amid
• [New] Subdued investment and limited fiscal space are weighing heavily on economic activity, raising the possibility that the global economy could settle into a trajectory of persistently slower growth than was observed in the pre-pandemic era. UN Forecasts Subdued Global Growth of 2.7% in 2026 Amid
• [New] The UN predicts 2026 global growth at 2.7%, remaining below pre-pandemic levels. UN Forecasts Subdued Global Growth of 2.7% in 2026 Amid
• [New] 65% of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Continued investments in connected packaging, IoT technologies, sustainable materials, AI-powered supply chain analytics, and digital packaging innovation will create substantial long-term growth opportunities as organizations increasingly modernize packaging systems and global supply chains. Pheonix Research
• [New] We now expect real GDP growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council to contract by 0.8% in 2026 (April: +1.9%; pre-conflict: +4.9%), with greater hits to output in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain but growth in Oman and Saudi Arabia, and nearly flat growth in the UAE. Fitch Solutions
• [New] We forecast Middle East and North Africa regional real GDP to contract by 0.9% in 2026 (versus. +0.9% growth previously), driven by prolonged Hormuz disruption under a fragile ceasefire. Fitch Solutions
• [New] Southeast Asia accounts for 9% of the world's population and 4% of its GDP, but nearly 20% of global energy demand growth to 2035 under today's policy settings. IEA
• [New] If we can close the rural productivity gap, we have a major opportunity to support UK growth more generally. GOV.UK
• [New] UK automotive production is forecast to return to growth in 2026, with output expected to expand by 3.5% following a sharp decline of 11.1% last year. atradius
• [New] Chinese automotive production growth is expected to slow down from 12.2% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026. atradius
• [New] US automotive production is expected to rebound by 3% in 2027, followed by 4.3% growth in 2028 as some major OEMs are expanding their capacity or opening new plants, or both. atradius
• [New] U.S. real GDP growth is forecast at 2.2% for 2026 and 2.2% for 2027, with nominal GDP growth projected at 5.8% and 4.7% respectively - revised upwards from prior estimates. Ventura Wealth Management
• [New] Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period, driven by rising luxury spending, expanding marina infrastructure, and increasing demand for yacht transportation services across emerging economies. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Latin America presents opportunities for growth through localized strategies and product innovation. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Latin America is anticipated to experience robust growth in savory snack categories over the next few years as retail infrastructure expands into smaller metropolitan areas across Brazil and Mexico. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The Asia Pacific region is expected to lead global growth in the snack sector for the next decade as rapid urbanization in China and India creates massive new consumer bases for convenience foods. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The Middle East & Africa leads growth at 9.13% CAGR to 2031. Mordor Intelligence

Last updated: 19 July 2026