World Economic Outlook October: Moderate Global Growth

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) – a United Nations agency – is committed to enhancing international monetary cooperation. The IMF advises and supports countries facing debt problems.

The IMF also publishes the World Economic Outlook. This macroeconomic study of the global economy is released twice a year (spring and autumn) and is available for free download from the IMF website.

Lower economic growth expected

The subtitle of the October 2025 edition is: Global Economy in Flux, Prospects Remain Dim.

According to the World Economic Outlook, economies, institutions, and markets have adapted to a landscape of increased protectionism and fragmentation, with bleak medium-term growth prospects. Changing import tariffs are an example of this.

The executive summary notes that this also affects economic growth: Global growth is expected to slow from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026.

How can entrepreneurs benefit from the World Economic Outlook?

Are you already investing abroad? Or do you plan to do business there? Then it is important to learn more about the economic situation in a country or region. The World Economic Outlook helps you with this.

Starting on page 42, the report compares the economic figures of 2024 with the expected figures for 2025 and 2026. You can see at a glance per country an overview of the percentage changes in:

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• consumer prices
• trade balance
• unemployment

Chapter 1 (page 19) covers global outlook and policy. Chapter 2 (page 69) discusses emerging markets, and Chapter 3 (page 75) covers industrial policy.

Want to know more about changing import tariffs?

Then check our information on changing import tariffs. On these pages, we keep you updated on the status of U.S. import tariffs.