IMFBlog is a forum for the views of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and officials on pressing economic and policy issues of the day. The IMF, based in

The slowdown is largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East—a critical region for remittances and tourism—and the lingering economic impact of September 2025 domestic unrest.

Adam Shapiro, vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, shared views on the current economy and the outlook from the Economic Research Department as of April 16, 2026.

The disruption of oil and gas supplies from the Middle East is compounding the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs.

The S&P 500 has delivered what can only be described as a strong year to date, extending a rally that has rewarded investors for staying the course through inflation, rate hikes, and geopolitical uncertainty. On the surface, by all accounts, the market ...

Flexible growth target means little likelihood of imminent stimulus, but focus will switch to impact of disruptions in second quarter The US-Israeli war on Iran and the current Iranian and American blockades of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to overshadow China's first-quarter economic performance,