World Bank raises South Asia’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.9%, flags oil and weather risks

The Business Times, carrying Reuters reporting, says the World Bank raised its 2026 growth forecast for South Asia to 6.9%, up 0.6 percentage points from its previous projection. World Bank economist Franziska Ohnsorge said government measures, remittances and domestic demand had helped cushion higher energy costs. Persistently high oil prices, severe weather and a global market correction could threaten the outlook.