The global economy showed remarkable resilience in 2025 despite significant trade tensions and policy uncertainty related to US tariffs.
The impact of Washington’s protectionist pivot has still to fully play out while the US’s mammoth bet on artificial intelligence (AI) has divided commentators.
We’ve picked six economic pressure points to watch out for in 2026.
The US economy
The trajectory of the US economy is perhaps the most watched trend in the global economy right now.
That’s because of the contradictory nature of Donald Trump’s economic agenda. He is trying to address an “affordability” crisis while imposing tariffs on key imports.
Tariffs should in theory elevate prices at expense of domestic consumers and businesses. Increased costs for businesses should also dampen hiring.
There is evidence of both these trends in the US economy, but they’re not as amplified as…
