OECD ups world growth forecast but cautions 'risks' from Middle East conflict

The OECD on Monday adjusted its 2024 global economic growth projection upwards, yet cautioned about the potential risks posed by the Middle East conflict. Disruptions in Red Sea shipping could elevate consumer prices, according to the Paris-based organisation. The OECD’s latest forecast indicates a growth of 2.9 per cent, marking an increase from its earlier estimate of 2.7 per cent in November as the outlook for the United States, the world’s largest economy, has been significantly upgraded. Global growth “proved unexpectedly resilient” in 2023, reaching 3.1 per cent as inflation declined faster than anticipated, with strong growth in the United States and emerging markets offsetting slowdowns in European nations. But indicators suggest “some moderation” of growth, with higher interest rates affecting the credit and housing markets while global trade remains subdued, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. While inflation is falling in major economies, “it is too soon to be sure that underlying price pressures are fully contained”, the OECD added in an update to its annual economic outlook. The OECD highlighted the threats from the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemeni rebels who say they were targeting Israel-linked ships in solidarity with the Palestinians. US and UK forces have responded with strikes against the Huthi rebels, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well. “High geopolitical tensions are a significant near-term risk to activity and inflation, particularly if the conflict in the Middle East were to disrupt energy markets,” the report said. “A widening or escalation of the conflict could disrupt shipping more extensively than presently expected, intensify supply bottlenecks, and push up energy prices if traffic is interrupted in the key routes for the transport of oil and gas from the Middle East to Asia, Europe and the Americas.” Around 15 per cent of global maritime trade volume passed through the Red Sea in 2022, according to the OECD. The attacks have sharply raised shipping costs and lengthened delivery times of goods as companies have rerouted their vessels around the southern tip of Africa, increasing their journey by as much as 50 percent, it said. Production schedules have been disrupted in Europe, notably for automakers, the report said. The recent 100 per cent increase in shipping costs, if persistent, could add 0.4 percentage points to consumer prices inflation after about a year, the OECD warned. ‘Lingering effects’ of rate hikes The organisation said monetary policy needs to “remain prudent” to ensure that inflationary pressure is “durably contained”. The US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England raised interest rates sharply in efforts to rein in consumer prices that rose after the Covid pandemic and jumped further after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Growth could also be weaker than projected if the lingering effects from past policy rate increases are stronger than expected,” the OECD said. The three central banks have recently paused their rate-hike campaigns and have kept them at high levels. But markets are hopeful that policymakers will soon begin to cut rates as inflation has slowed in major economies, though it remains above two-percent targets. Inflation this year is expected to slow to 2.3 per cent in the United States, 2.6 per cent in the eurozone and 3.6 percent in Britain, the OECD projected. The US economy is forecast to grow by 2.1 percent percent in 2024, up from from 1.5 per cent in the previous outlook. But the eurozone’s outlook was downgraded to 0.6 percent growth from 0.9 per cent previously. The forecast for China, the world’s second biggest economy, remained unchanged at 4.7 per cent. With inputs from agencies