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What Is Behind the Weakness in Global Investment?

Staff discussion paper 2016-5 Maxime Leboeuf, Robert Fay
The recovery in private business investment globally remains extremely weak more than seven years after the financial crisis. This paper contributes to the ongoing policy debate on the factors behind this weakness by analyzing the role of growth prospects and uncertainty in explaining developments in non-residential private business investment in large advanced economies since the crisis.
July 6, 2026

Business Outlook Survey—Second Quarter of 2026

Results from the Business Outlook Survey and the Business Leaders’ Pulse indicate that firms’ sentiment has deteriorated. Domestic sales outlooks have weakened amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and elevated costs related to fuel, while export outlooks have improved because of stronger demand for commodities. Investment intentions remain solid, but fewer firms plan to add staff. More firms now expect their input and selling prices to rise, reflecting higher global oil prices. Firms’ inflation expectations are also higher than in recent quarters. Oil producers have revised their capital spending and production plans upward, citing expectations of sustained elevated oil prices.
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