The global economy will “remain resilient” over the coming years but “risks and uncertainties are high”, according to the annual outlook from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The OECD, whose 38 members included the world's largest economies, forecasted growth of 3.2 per cent this year and 3.3 per cent next year, slightly higher than the predictions made in September. Meanwhile, inflation in the OECD countries is expected to ease further, from 5.4 per cent this year to 3.8 per cent next year and 3 per cent in 2026. Headline inflation has already returned to the targets set by the central bank targets in about half of advanced economies and close to 60 per cent of emerging market economies, the OECD said.
“The global economy has proved resilient. Inflation has declined further towards central bank targets, while growth has remained stable,” OECD secretary general Mathias Cormann said. “Significant challenges remain. Geopolitical tensions pose short-term risks, public debt ratios are high and medium-term growth prospects are too weak. Policy action needs to safeguard macroeconomic stability – through monetary policy easing that is carefully calibrated to ensure inflationary pressures are durably contained and through fiscal policy that rebuilds fiscal space to preserve room to meet future spending pressures.”
Although the Paris-based organisation's 267-page report did not mention president-elect Donald Trump by name, it alluded to Mr Trump's recent threats to impose tariffs of one sort or another on almost all goods entering the US by cautioning that “greater trade protectionism, particularly from the largest economies” constitutes a “downside risk”.
“Robust overall performance masks significant differences across regions and countries and is surrounded by important downside risks and uncertainties,” said OECD chief economist Alvaro Pereira. “There are increasing risks related to rising trade tensions and protectionism, a possible escalation of geopolitical conflicts, and challenging fiscal policies in some countries.”
UK boost, but more tax raises
As far as the UK is concerned, the OECD predicted inflation and growth would be slightly higher for the British economy than was previously forecast, because of a spending boost in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's budget in October. Ms Reeves set out plans for almost £70 billion a year of extra public spending, funded through tax rises and increased borrowing. That partly prompted the OECD to increase its UK inflation forecast for 2025 from 2.4 per cent to 2.7 per cent. As such, the OECD forecast that interest rates would fall to 3.5 per cent by the start of 2026, from their current 4.75 per cent. In turn, the prediction for the UK economy was an expansion of 1.7 per cent next year (up from the 1.2 per cent forecast in September), but a slowing to 1.3 per cent in 2026, as the front-loaded government spending runs its course.
“Growth is our number one priority, and the OECD upgrade will mean the UK is the fastest growing European economy in the G7 over the next three years,” Ms Reeves said in response to the OECD report. “That is only the start. Growth only matters if it's matched by more money in people's pockets.”
However, the OECD pointed out that Ms Reeves would still need to raise taxes in one shape or another. “Rebuilding fiscal buffers and continuing to mobilise additional revenue, including by closing loopholes and reducing distortions in the tax system, is necessary to ensure fiscal sustainability,” the report said. The OECD's tax-raising prediction for the UK comes just a week after Mr Reeves said she was “not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes”.
German woes
Meanwhile, the OECD trimmed its 2025 economic forecasts for Germany, due to political uncertainty and tight fiscal policy, while predicting a degree of stagnation for this year. The world's third-largest economy is expected to grow by 0.7 per cent in 2025, down from a previously forecast 1.1 per cent, the OECD said. “In 2025, Germany will bring up the rear among OECD countries,” the OECD's Isabell Koske said.
Germany's economy, the world's third largest, is having to cope with the collapse of the ruling coalition last month and the possibility of a tit-for-tat trade war with the US once Mr Trump takes up residence in the White House. Germany's economically important automotive sector has been hit by weak global demand and significant competition from China, and recovery in exports is expected to be slow. Meanwhile, France saw a 0.3 percentage point cut to its 2025 growth forecast to 0.9 per cent as the OECD released its report on the same day Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government faced a no-confidence vote after a stand-off over its plans for public finances.
The OECD was more upbeat about the prospects for the world's largest economy, the US, raising its growth forecast for 2024 from 2.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent, and for 2025 from 1.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent. Meanwhile, the OECD sees the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates to 3.25-3.5 per cent by the first quarter of 2026.
The OECD said China's economy is now expected to expand by 4.7 per cent in 2025, a 0.2 per cent increase, while India's growth forecast was raised 0.1 percentage points to 6.9 per cent.
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
GCC-UK%20Growth
%3Cp%3EAn%20FTA%20with%20the%20GCC%20would%20be%20very%20significant%20for%20the%20UK.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20My%20Department%20has%20forecast%20that%20it%20could%20generate%20an%20additional%20%C2%A31.6%20billion%20a%20year%20for%20our%20economy.%3Cbr%3EWith%20consumer%20demand%20across%20the%20GCC%20predicted%20to%20increase%20to%20%C2%A3800%20billion%20by%202035%20this%20deal%20could%20act%20as%20a%20launchpad%20from%20which%20our%20firms%20can%20boost%20their%20market%20share.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYango%20Deli%20Tech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERetail%20SaaS%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf%20funded%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
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Company%C2%A0profile
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