Visa's midyear Business and Economic Insights report forecasts 2.4% global growth in 2026, slightly below IMF and World Bank projections. Three forces are identified as supporting the economy: resilient consumers shifting to deal-seeking behavior, digital commerce helping contain inflation through increased price competition (online adoption in smaller cities nearly doubled since pre-pandemic), and a broad-based investment boom in AI, clean energy, and supply chains described as the strongest industrial investment cycle since 2010. Hyperscaler capex is on track to exceed $690bn in 2026. The report notes tensions in the narrative: AI-driven energy demand is straining the same clean-energy grids Visa credits as a positive force, and AI-curated shopping experiences may undermine the open price competition Visa links to lower inflation.
