IMF WEO April 2026: Global Growth Cut to 3.1%; Adverse Scenario 2.5%; Inflation 4.4%

The International Monetary Fund's April 2026 World Economic Outlook confirmed global growth at 3.1% for 2026 in its reference scenario (down from January's 3.3%), with an adverse scenario of 2.5% (war continuation) and severe scenario of 2.0%. Global headline inflation rose to 4.4%. The Middle East & Central Asia region was cut by 2 percentage points to 1.9%. The IMF pledged $20-50 billion in emergency support for energy-importing developing economies. Released at the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington (April 13-18), where IMF MD Georgieva called the 5-week oil/LNG disruption 'the largest disruption to global energy markets in modern history.'