GENERAL NEWS
Geopolitical risks shake global economy
The resilience of the global economy is being tested by the evolving conflict in the Middle East, which has generated new inflationary pressures while creating significant uncertainty, according to the OECD’ s latest Interim Economic Outlook. Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum.
“ Global growth was steady heading into 2026, supported by the strength of technologyrelated production, lower effective tariffs on U. S. imports and the momentum carried over from 2025. The energy supply shock following the onset of the conflict in the Middle East is expected to significantly weigh on global growth, while putting new upward pressure on inflation,” said the OECD on 26 March 2026. As a result, the OECD Outlook projects global growth of 2.9 % in 2026 and 3.0 % in
2027. The evolution of the conflict in the Middle East is highly uncertain and poses considerable risks to these baseline projections. A more long-lasting disruption, with energy prices remaining elevated beyond mid-2026, would further reduce growth prospects.
“ GDP growth in the United States is projected at 2.0 % in 2026, before moderating to 1.7 % in 2027. In the euro area, growth is projected to be 0.8 % in 2026 and 1.2 % in 2027. China’ s growth is projected to slow to 4.4 % in 2026 and 4.3 % in 2027,” said the OECD.
“ Inflation pressures will persist for a longer period, with inflation now expected to be higher in 2026 than previously projected, reflecting the surge in global energy prices. Headline inflation in G20 countries is projected to be 4.0 % in 2026, easing to 2.7 % in 2027,” it continued.
“ The energy supply shock from the evolving conflict in the Middle East is testing the resilience of the global economy. We project global growth will remain robust, but it will be slower than the pre-conflict trajectory, with significantly higher inflation,” OECD Secretary- General, Mathias Cormann, outlined.
“ Any policy measures adopted to cushion the impact of the energy price shock should be targeted towards those most in need and ensure incentives to save energy are preserved. Increasing renewable energy generation and energy efficiency can enhance economic security while boosting resilience to future price shocks,” he added. n
www. oecd. org
Meet ISMR at MACH 2026
Meet the ISMR team at MACH 2026 which will take at the NEC in Birmingham( UK) from 20-24 April 2026. Across the five exhibition halls, dedicated technology zones will be focal points of vibrant activity. Throughout the week, exhibitors will showcase an array of new, inspiring engineering-based manufacturing technologies and solutions, including demonstrations of live working machinery and new product launches.
MACH brings together engineering and manufacturing technologies, techniques and industry experts under one roof. The trade show will feature product launches, live demonstrations, specialised zones, knowledge hubs, seminars and a range of activities. MACH is owned and organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association( MTA), which also encompasses a cluster of organisations including Engineering Supply Chain UK( ESCUK), Additive Manufacturing UK( AMUK) and MTA Training.
The 14 technology zones at MACH 2026 have been designed to help attendees navigate the exhibition and identify the solutions relevant to their needs. The event brings together suppliers of machine tools; cutting tools; metrology equipment; additive manufacturing( 3D printing); surface engineering; robotics and automation; sheet metal and metal forming technologies plus specialist software that is accelerating the digitalisation of manufacturing.
“ These innovations will be showcased by more than 500 exhibitors serving a broad range of industries including aerospace, automotive, marine engineering, medical, food and agriculture,” said the MTA.
Several technology zones will feature dedicated Knowledge Hubs, where attendees can engage directly with experts to better understand how to adopt new technologies and leverage them to enhance productivity, improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. These interactive hubs will focus on key industry topics including automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, data and artificial intelligence, and consumable tooling. n
www. machexhibition. com
6 | ismr. net | ISMR April 2026