With economic and geopolitical uncertainty in the 2025 global economic outlook, business leaders can focus on agility and profitability.

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In brief

• Global GDP growth is expected to remain stable, but with significant divergences across regions.
• Global inflation anticipated to steadily decline, but with risks from trade protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and wage and services costs.
• Six key themes in the 2025 global economic outlook include the US as growth leader and disruptor, price volatility and cautious monetary policy recalibration.

Global economic activity is expected to maintain modest momentum in 2025. Real GDP growth should remain stable at 3.1% – on par with the expected advance in 2024 – but our global economic outlook foresees strongly desynchronised growth patterns across regions.

Real GDP in advanced economies is projected to grow 1.8% in 2025, up from 1.7% in 2024. In the US, economic activity is expected to remain robust, supported by solid income and productivity, even as real GDP growth slips from 2.8% in 2024 to 2.2% in 2025. In Europe, steady income growth and falling interest rates should drive stronger consumer spending growth and a modest recovery in investment. Real GDP growth in the euro area should pick up to 1.3%–surpassing 1% for the first time in three years. Real GDP growth in Japan is likely to rebound toward 1.1% driven by a gradual acceleration in real wages and consumer spending.

Emerging markets are anticipated to grow at 4.1% in 2025, in line with growth in 2024. We foresee real GDP growth in mainland China slowing to 4.5% in 2025 as structural property sector and demographic challenges will restrain economic activity despite fiscal and monetary policy support. India should remain a bright spot, with real GDP growth expected at 6.4%, driven by public investment and strong domestic demand. Latin America is expected to see a mildly stronger expansion, despite a notable slowdown in growth in Brazil.

Global inflation is expected to decline steadily, easing from 4.5% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025 – still somewhat higher than the 3.1% pace in 2019. Advanced economies are likely to bring inflation under control faster than emerging economies. However, the near-term trajectory to price stability may still face challenges with persistent services and wage inflation in several parts of the world leading to desynchronised monetary policy responses. Risks to the global inflation outlook will be tilted to the upside given the prospects of increased protectionism, geopolitical tensions, derisking and demographic constraints.

In a world increasingly subject to supply shocks that constrain economic output and drive up inflation, central banks will tread carefully. We anticipate widespread monetary policy desynchronisation in 2025 as central bankers respond to divergent domestic and international conditions. In advanced economies, the Fed will likely ease policy more gradually than the European Central Bank (ECB) while the Bank of Japan tightens policy prudently in the face of a virtuous wage-inflation dynamic.

Across emerging markets, some economies, like Brazil, are facing resurgent inflationary pressures that may prompt policy tightening. At the opposite end of the spectrum, mainland China will continue to ease policy to avoid the risk of persistent deflation. Central bankers in Latin America and Asia will be keenly focused on the Fed’s policy moves to preempt and buffer potential foreign exchange shocks.

In 2025, fiscal policy will be shaped by the challenges of managing elevated public debt and high interest rates amid competing economic and political demands. Growing populist calls for increased social spending, tax cuts and subsidies, alongside long-term needs related to energy transition, military spending and aging demographics, further strain fiscal management, especially in politically unstable regions where immediate concessions often overshadow long-term reforms.

Global Economic Outlook: Six Themes for 2025

The global economic environment is poised for significant shifts in 2025, driven by evolving market dynamics, geopolitical realignments and structural transformations across industries. Below, we explore six key macroeconomic themes that will shape the year ahead, with a focus on their implications for major economies around the world.

1. US Economic Exceptionalism: A Global Growth Leader and Disruptor

The US economy will remain the global growth leader in 2025 driven by solid income growth, pro-cyclical productivity growth, accommodating fiscal policy and easing monetary policy. While we anticipate real GDP growth in major economies around the world to realign with trend-growth, the US will be one of the few exceptions where this convergence will be from above-potential GDP growth toward 2.2%. The implications are two-fold: the US economy will remain the main driver of global economic resilience, but mildly softer momentum will limit the global pull.

The US will also be a major global growth disruptor with regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy changes representing opportunities and risks worldwide. The composition, timing and magnitude of policy shifts is still uncertain, but likely to have a consequential influence on economic and inflation dynamics in 2025 and beyond.

Trade policy, in particular, is likely to have an outsized impact on the global economy in late 2025 and 2026 with tariffs and other protectionist measures that could push the global economy into “stagflation” (economic stagnation combined with elevated inflation), if pursued to their fullest extent.

Conversely, tax cuts and stronger private sector confidence on the prospects of pro-business policies and deregulation could support stronger spending and investment in the near-term, even if policy uncertainty should not be underestimated as a headwind.

Finally, US exceptionalism will also bring challenges to global markets, as resulting US dollar strength could exacerbate inflationary pressures worldwide and disrupt capital and investment flows to emerging markets.

2. Trade and Geopolitics: Derisking in A Fragmented Universe

Governments will continue to blend national security priorities with strategic competitiveness goals using industrial policy and trade protectionism to support their objectives. The fragmentation of global trade, exacerbated by tensions between the US and mainland China, and the rise of geoeconomic blocs will continue to redefine supply chain dynamics.

In this environment, the role of “connector economies” – emerging markets that have advantageous locations and preferential trade agreements across major blocs – will grow. India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Southeast Asian economies will benefit from maintaining or developing strong trade and investment relations across geopolitical blocs. India, in particular, will continue to foster trade and investment ties across geopolitical divides while being a critical driver of South-South trade. Southeast Asia is likely to remain the top destination for foreign investment among emerging markets.

In the US, protectionist measures will be used in a transactional manner to extract trade, immigration, drug traffic control, defense spending and other political concessions from trading partners. We anticipate targeted tariffs on trading partners. However, we note that a scenario factoring 60% tariffs on Chinese imports and a 10% universal tariff on all imports from other US trading partners (assuming proportional retaliation against US exports) would reduce global GDP by 1.4% after two years, with GDP in the US, mainland China, Mexico and Canada reduced by 2.0% to 3.0%.

In Europe, the European Commission will also make increasing use of trade-defensive tools such as tariffs and step up scrutiny of foreign direct investments in strategic sectors. And, in emerging countries, this trend will increasingly manifest in resource nationalism, as governments from Mexico to Indonesia seek greater state involvement in the resources sector or higher value-added process to occur domestically.

Meanwhile, geopolitical hotspots – Ukraine, the Middle East and Taiwan – will remain potential disruptors to global supply chains, given their strategic importance in energy, technology and trade routes. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine fuels uncertainty about future pockets of tension and their effects on commodities prices. Tensions in the Middle East, a region central to oil production and trade routes, elevate the risk of energy supply and transport cost shocks that could further strain inflationary pressures globally. Similarly, escalating frictions in Taiwan – a hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing – pose significant risks to technology supply chains, with potential repercussions for industries reliant on these critical components. Collectively, these geopolitical challenges underscore the fragility of global supply networks in an increasingly fragmented and volatile world.

3. Price Volatility: Easing Inflation Pressures but Supply Fragilities

Inflation will only gradually converge toward central bank targets across regions, with upside risks stemming from structural supply fragilities, geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity prices.

In advanced economies, where inflation surged to multidecade highs following the pandemic, price pressures are expected to moderate but remain uneven. Wage cost pressures, potential tariffs and limited innovation undermining global competitiveness in some sectors are likely to persist across European economies and the UK. In the US, we expect the moderating trend in inflation will remain in place through early 2025, though it could then change as deregulation, potential immigration restrictions and tariffs lead to a renewed inflation impulse. In contrast to President-elect Trump’s first term, these inflationary pressures would come in a new paradigm defined by fragile supply conditions, elevated geopolitical tensions and structural upside risks to inflation. Geopolitical tensions such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East could further exacerbate inflation volatility, particularly in energy and agricultural commodities.

Mainland China will face a different macroeconomic challenge: the risk of deflation due to subdued consumer spending trends, cautious business investment and ongoing deleveraging in the property sector. This has prompted authorities to announce stimulus measures to prevent exacerbating deflationary pressures. Indeed, deflation could slow the economic recovery by delaying consumer purchases, eroding corporate revenues and worsening real debt burdens, particularly if property sector weakness and slowing exports continue to weigh on private sector confidence.

Emerging markets will grapple with the challenge of curbing inflation while contending with fragile supply chains, volatile commodity prices and foreign exchange fluctuations. Several Asian emerging economies, including India and Indonesia, are better positioned to maintain price stability due to proactive fiscal measures and monetary prudence. The combination of a diversified supply base that mitigates reliance on external inputs and importing deflation from China should further support disinflation.

The five D’s of structurally higher inflation – demographics, debt, de-risking, decarbonisation and digitalisation – will remain in place. Aging populations requiring more private and public spending; elevated levels of public expenditure on domestic and industrial policy; a growing focus on de-risking and building resilience in a geopolitically fragmented world; the greening of the global economy via greater outlays to reduce carbon emissions; and capital investment to develop generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) will likely mean that central banks’ inflation targets represent a floor rather than a ceiling in most economies over the medium term.

Still, inflation risks are not entirely tilted to the upside as an end to conflicts around the world, restrained protectionism, stronger productivity growth or subdued demand growth would translate into a lower inflation environment.

4. Monetory Policy: Reasons to Recalibrate but Recalibrate with Caution

Generally easing inflation should continue to favor monetary policy recalibration in the near term. But while central banks will find plenty of reasons to pursue their policy easing cycle, they will almost certainly recalibrate with caution given the risks from inflation volatility tied to trade, wages, energy and food cost pressures. As a result, global monetary policy will be desynchronised as central bankers respond to divergent domestic and international conditions and may even be forced to tighten policy amid resurgent inflationary and exchange rate pressures.

The Federal Reserve is likely to proceed carefully in easing policy after having reduced the federal funds rate by 100 basis points (bps) in 2024. Unsure about what the neutral fed funds rate is, data-dependent policymakers will likely favor easing at every other Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting through Q3 2025 given upside risks to inflation stemming from deregulation, tax cuts, tariffs and immigration restrictions. A prolonged pause in the easing cycle should not be discounted, and a 2025 Fed rate hike is more than just a tail risk.

Central banks in the rest of the world face equally complex recalibration challenges, reflecting diverse economic conditions. The ECB is expected to ease policy more rapidly than the Bank of England (BoE) considering weaker growth prospects and mildly lower inflation projections in the eurozone due to more constrained wage growth.

Central banks in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand will continue to lead global policy recalibration given lower inflation prospects and softer labor market conditions. With some delay relative to its peers, the Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to commence its easing cycle in early 2025 given soft growth dynamics and easing inflation. The Bank of Japan will be the exception among developed markets’ central banks with gradual tightening and normalisation of policy in the face of moderate consumer and wage price inflation after two decades of deflation.

Central banks in emerging markets will carefully navigate the complex interplay of global and domestic pressures, with a keen eye on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance to mitigate foreign exchange volatility and capital flow reversals. In Asia, monetary easing is expected to gain traction as inflation moderates and economic conditions stabilise. India is likely to proceed cautiously, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) adopting a measured approach to rate reductions. With headline inflation above the 4% target, robust economic growth and geopolitical uncertainties will temper the pace of easing. Across Latin America, monetary policy will broadly shift toward accommodation as inflationary pressures subside, although Brazil may remain an outlier with rate hikes to counter persistently high inflation.

Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) will face deflationary risks rather than inflation in the coming months. The PBoC is expected to implement policy interest rate and reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts and complement these accommodative policies with bond purchases in 2025.

This global divergence in monetary policy trajectories underscores the fragmented nature of the global recovery and the difficulty of achieving synchronised growth. For many central banks, recalibrating with caution will mean balancing inflation control with the imperative to sustain growth and ensure financial stability in an increasingly volatile environment.

5. Labor in Flux: Talent Scarcity, Productivity and AI

The future of global labor markets will be shaped by the intricate interplay of economic pressures, demographic shifts and rapid technological advancements. Advanced economies, grappling with cyclical headwinds and slower employment growth have so far benefited from labor supply rebounds fueled by immigration. However, mounting populist opposition to immigration threatens to exacerbate talent shortages in aging societies, further straining already fragile labor markets. In addition, some economies, like Europe, face the dual challenge of subdued productivity growth and declining competitiveness, compounded by rigid labor markets and slower adoption of innovative technologies.

Policymakers and business leaders will need to counter these challenges by fostering stronger workforce participation and accelerating investments in automation and AI to offset demographic pressures. Business leaders, facing rising costs of talent post-pandemic, are likely to focus on preserving their talent but drive productivity enhancements and constrain wage growth to contain labor costs.

We have been firm believers in what has now become the consensus view that the US productivity surge was sustainable. Longer-tenured and better trained employees, strong business formation, efforts to offset high wage bills with efficiency gains and judicious business investment in a high-interest rate environment form the bedrock of this acceleration in productivity. If firms across other advanced economies can generate strong productivity momentum, they will be able to control costs and protect margins without sacrificing talent in an environment of still-elevated wages and fading pricing power.

Emerging markets should be better positioned to leverage demographic dividends and reform momentum. Economies like India, ASEAN nations and Brazil are intensifying efforts to improve labor market efficiency and foster innovation. Policies promoting higher workforce participation, particularly among women, are becoming central to sustaining growth in regions experiencing rapid social and economic change. Meanwhile, digital transformation is driving competitiveness in regions such as mainland China and Sub-Saharan Africa. In the coming years, successfully aligning workforce potential with technological capabilities will be critical for emerging markets to solidify their position as engines of global economic expansion.

At the forefront of these shifts, GenAI is poised to redefine productivity and reshape the global economy. We estimate the GenAI revolution could contribute $1.7 trillion to $3.4 trillion to global GDP by 2035, equivalent to adding an economy the size of India. For the US, this transformation could translate into the equivalent of two to four extra years of economic growth within a decade. To fully capitalise on this potential, business leaders and policymakers must prioritise the integration of advanced technologies, commit to reskilling and workforce adaptability, and implement structural reforms that foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

6. Fiscal Policy: A Delicate Balancing Act

Fiscal policy in 2025 is set against a backdrop of high public debt, elevated interest rates and competing political and economic priorities. Global public debt is forecast to remain at 91% of GDP, creating an environment where governments face rising borrowing costs and reduced fiscal flexibility. The high-interest rate environment compounds the challenge, as debt servicing increasingly absorbs resources that could otherwise support growth-oriented investments. Rising populist pressures for social spending, tax cuts and subsidies further complicate fiscal management, particularly in politically unstable regions where short-term appeasement often takes precedence over structural reforms.

Advanced economies must grapple with balancing fiscal consolidation against populist pressures for greater spending and tax cuts as well as rising spending needs related to energy transition, defense and aging demographics. In the US, potential extensions of tax relief measures, such as the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, could widen the deficit, while rising interest expenses, entitlement costs and defense spending further constrain fiscal options. Similarly, Japan’s fiscal outlook is overshadowed by an aging population that continues to drive up health care and pension costs, demanding ever-higher expenditures even as economic growth remains subdued.

In Europe, fiscal policy will be tightened mildly, though fiscal positions will diverge across countries. France will display the highest deficit within the euro area, with no significant tightening expected amid political gridlock, making the country highly vulnerable to disruptions in sovereign bond markets. In Germany, the deficit will be much lower, as the recent government collapse prevents any increase in government expenditures in the short term, even though looser fiscal policy and public investment in infrastructure and the energy transition are badly needed to lift the economy out of stagnation. Fiscal policy will also remain expansionary in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Romania and Poland, due to rising military spending and populist pressures.

Emerging markets will face intensified fiscal pressures in 2025 as high global interest rates and a strong US dollar amplify the cost of dollar-denominated debt, limiting their capacity for fiscal expansion. Brazil exemplifies these challenges with a populist agenda promoting much looser government spending and a likely 15 percentage points (ppt) rise in the debt-to-GDP ratio by 2030. Currency depreciation amid fiscal sustainability concerns along with high inflation have, in turn, prompted a significant tightening of monetary policy. In Asia, India is expected to sustain growth through moderate public investment, while mainland China relies on targeted fiscal measures to counter its structural slowdown. In Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, governments are diversifying fiscal revenues away from oil and stimulating non-oil sector activity with public investment. Sub-Saharan Africa must navigate fiscal consolidation alongside political instability and growing demands for infrastructure, energy and climate resilience investments.

In 2025, sustainable pro-growth fiscal policy should focus on unlocking long-term productivity gains while addressing the constraints of elevated debt levels and high interest rates. Strategic investments in digitalisation, education, infrastructure and green energy will be essential for driving economic transformation and resilience. However, the risk of these growth-enabling expenditures being overshadowed by rising debt servicing costs is significant, especially for emerging markets with constrained fiscal space.

Three Strategies for Business Leaders to Thrive in 2025

To help ensure resilience, innovation and profitability, business leaders should adopt the following three strategies:

1. Agility: Develop flexible planning processes that can quickly adapt to various economic scenarios and market conditions. Implement dynamic pricing models and stay informed about geopolitical developments to adjust strategies effectively. Consider the broader ecosystem and the impact of economic desynchronisation on different regions and sectors.
2. Adaptability: Transform the enterprise by learning from past crises, regularly refreshing strategies and adapting portfolios to the changing economic and geopolitical landscape. Focus on making labor, supply chains and technology practices more resilient and adaptable to new supply conditions and geopolitical influences.
3. Accountability: Invest significantly in GenAI and other transformative technologies to build the enterprise of the future. Stay ahead of technological advancements, manage higher structural inflation and align with global trends in decarbonisation and digitalisation to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Summary

Global economic activity is expected to keep its momentum in 2025, but with a mix across regions. Inflation anticipated to steadily ease and monetary policymakers are expected to recalibrate, though cautiously. Still, there are economic and geopolitical risks to the global economic outlook, and we see slowing in 2026. Business leaders would do well to price with agility, focus on profitability and invest in innovation.

The article was first published by EY.

Photo by Benjamin Smith on Unsplash.