The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development grew 0.4 percent sequentially in the first quarter, the Paris-based organization said Friday. The growth rate improved slightly from 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011.
However, the total GDP continues to mask diverging patterns among member countries.
Japan and the United States expanded 1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, economic activity remained weak in the euro area and the European Union as a whole.
On a yearly basis, the OECD area expanded 1.6 percent in the first quarter, faster than the 1.4 percent increase a quarter ago.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.