PM's G7 growth claim fact-checked by forecasters

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 17:29 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham claimed the UK has joint-fastest growth in the G7, but forecasters show it ranks third.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Good Morning Britain on Monday that the International Monetary Fund said Britain is 'joint' fastest growing in the G7. He made a similar claim at Prime Minister's Questions the previous week, saying Britain was 'the standout nation for deficit reduction and the joint fastest growing country in the G7'.

The IMF's World Economic Outlook forecasts growth for 2026 as follows: the US at 2.3 per cent, Germany and the UK both at 1.3 per cent (when rounded), Canada at 1.1 per cent, Italy at 0.8 per cent, Japan at 0.7 per cent and France at 0.4 per cent. When rounded, this places the UK as joint second-fastest with Germany behind the US. However, the unrounded figures show the UK as the third-fastest growing country in the G7, slightly behind Germany.

Separate data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows the UK's economic growth in the first half of this year was the fastest in the G7. When those figures are rounded, the UK appears joint-fastest with the US.

How it is being reported

• Fact check: UK forecast to have third-fastest growth in G7 this yearPrime Minister Andy Burnham has suggested the nation has the joint-fastest.Evening Standard · 27 Oct, 16:59
• Fact check: UK forecast to have third-fastest growth in G7 this yearPrime Minister Andy Burnham has suggested the nation has the joint-fastest.Independent Business · 27 Oct, 16:59

In this story: Andy Burnham · Kemi Badenoch · International Monetary Fund · United States · United Kingdom · Germany

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