Greece is growing nearly twice as fast as Europe's biggest economies, according to updated forecasts released today by c...

Greece is growing nearly twice as fast as Europe's biggest economies, according to updated forecasts released today by credit rating agency DBRS. The agency projects Greece will expand at 1.8% in both 2026 and 2027, while France, Germany, Italy, and the UK are expected to manage just 0.5% to 1% growth this year, rising only slightly to 0.7%-1.2% in 2027. DBRS groups Greece alongside Spain, Portugal, parts of Central and Eastern Europe, and some Nordic countries as the bloc's outperformers. On unemployment, DBRS forecasts Greece's jobless rate will fall from 8.3% this year to 7.8% in 2027, continuing a gradual downward trend. The agency notes labor market conditions across most major developed economies remain relatively strong despite ongoing uncertainty. The broader picture is more complicated. Global energy prices dropped through most of the third quarter of 2026 before spiking sharply in September, as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea renewed concerns about Middle Eastern oil supply reliability. Long-term interest rates continue to climb, and central banks are providing less support to economic activity than before. DBRS also flags that inflation remains above policy targets in many countries even as unemployment stays at historically low or moderate levels. The agency describes current global conditions as largely shaped by what it calls a "technology arms race," driven by heavy investment in artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and aerospace and defense industries. #Greece #Economy #Europe