Vetted by NeuralPress's Multi-Agent Verifier for strict factual validity and event relevance. Our compliance engine cross-checks and filters search results to ensure zero false correlations or misleading content.
Singapore Q1 2026 Economic Performance
Comparison of Q1 2026 actual growth versus advance estimates.
Primary Sources
Singapore reports lower-than-expected inflation for April at 1.8%
A housewife (R) buys vegetables at a wet market in SingaporeRoslan Rahman | Afp | Getty ImagesSingapore on Monday reported lower-than-expected inflation for April at 1.8% on the back of lower increase in services and retail inflation. Reuters-polled economists had estimated inflation at 2%. Core inflation — which strips out prices of private transport and accommodation — came in at 1.4%.The Monetary Authority of Singapore, however, said that the city-state's imported cost pressures are expected to pick up and broaden in the months ahead."As higher energy and other input costs arising from the developments in the Middle East pass through global supply chains, they will raise production and transport costs for a wider range of Singapore's imported goods and services," according to the government statement. The MAS had projected both headline and core inflation would come in at 1.5%-2.5% for the whole of 2026. Earlier in the day, Singapore revised its first-quarter GDP growth sharply higher to 6%, up from 4.6% in advanced estimates, and topping Reuters estimates of 5.1%. The country's ministry of trade and industry said that Singapore's full year growth will come in between 2%-4% in 2026, amid energy-related disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.The MAS in April tightened its monetary policy for the first time in over three years due to the inflation outlook. Unlike most nations, Singapore does not use interest rates to manage its monetary policy, but instead guides the Singapore dollar within a policy band against a trade-weighted basket of currencies.Singapore dollar is managed within the set policy band, whose precise levels are not disclosed.Stock Chart IconStock chart icon
Singapore economy beats expectations in Q1 with 6% annual growth, risks ...
SINGAPORE: Singapore's economy grew a greater than expected 6.0% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, but officials said the Middle East conflict had weakened the outlook with downside risks ahead.The annual gross domestic product figure beat an official advance estimate of 4.6%. On a quarter-on-quarter, seasonally adjusted basis, the economy expanded by 1.0% in the January-March period, compared with an advance estimate of a 0.3% contraction.The first quarter growth was mainly driven by wholesale trade, manufacturing and the finance and insurance sectors, supported by strong AI-related demand, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said.It maintained its economic growth forecast for this year at 2.0% to 4.0%.DOWNSIDE RISKS TO OUTLOOK AHEAD"Overall, the outlook for the Singapore economy in 2026 has weakened since February," ministry permanent secretary Beh Swan Gin told a press conference."Downside risks to Singapore's economic outlook have risen significantly and MTI will continue to monitor developments closely and adjust the GDP growth forecast over the course of the year, if necessary."The Middle East conflict has upended global growth and inflation trajectories, throwing interest rate expectations into disarray. As a small trade-dependent hub, Singapore is especially vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and volatile energy prices. Last month, the central bank tightened monetary policy due to the risk of the Iran war fuelling inflation. The central bank had held policy steady at its previous three quarterly meetings having eased policy last April.Speaking at the same event on Monday, central bank chief economist Edward Robinson said its current monetary policy stance remains appropriate."For the Singapore economy, interest rates have been fairly stable, having been down through 2025 and we expect that to continue with the proviso of some stability or some surety to U.S. interest rates going into the second half of this year," Robinson said. Instead of using interest rates, Singapore manages monetary policy by letting the local dollar rise or fall against currencies of its main trading partners within an undisclosed trading band.EXPORTS FORECAST RAISED ON AI-RELATED DEMANDOfficial data released on Monday showed Singapore's non-oil domestic exports expanded 9.6% in Q1 2026, led by the electronics segment with growth of 57.8%.Enterprise Singapore raised its export growth forecast to 3.0% to 5.0%, up from 2.0% to 4.0%, on ...
Singapore economy beats expectations in Q1 with 6% annual growth, risks ahead | Reuters
Singapore's economy grew a greater than expected 6.0% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, but officials said the Middle East conflict had weakened the outlook with downside risks ahead.
Singapore Economy Grows 6% Y/y in Q1, Above Advance Estimate
By Jun Yuan YongSINGAPORE, May 25 (Reuters) - Singapore's economy grew a greater than expected 6.0% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, but officials said the Middle East conflict had weakened the outlook with downside risks ahead. The annual gross domestic product figure beat an official advance estimate of 4.6%. On a quarter-on-quarter, seasonally adjusted basis, the economy expanded by 1.0% in the January-March period, compared with an advance estimate of a 0.3% contraction.The first quarter growth was mainly driven by wholesale trade, manufacturing and the finance and insurance sectors, supported by strong AI-related demand, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said.It maintained its economic growth forecast for this year at 2.0% to 4.0%. DOWNSIDE RISKS TO OUTLOOK AHEAD"Overall, the outlook for the Singapore economy in 2026 has weakened since February," ministry permanent secretary Beh Swan Gin told a press conference. "Downside risks to Singapore's economic outlook have risen significantly and MTI will continue to monitor developments closely and adjust the GDP growth forecast over the course of the year, if necessary."The Middle East conflict has upended global growth and inflation trajectories, throwing interest rate expectations into disarray. As a small trade-dependent hub, Singapore is especially vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and volatile energy prices.Last month, the central bank tightened monetary policy due to the risk of the Iran war fuelling inflation. The central bank had held policy steady at its previous three quarterly meetings having eased policy last April.Speaking at the same event on Monday, central bank chief economist Edward Robinson said its current monetary policy stance remains appropriate."For the Singapore economy, interest rates have been fairly stable, having been down through 2025 and we expect that to continue with the proviso of some stability or some surety to U.S. interest rates going into the second half of this year," Robinson said.Instead of using interest rates, Singapore manages monetary policy by letting the local dollar rise or fall against currencies of its main trading partners within an undisclosed trading band.EXPORTS FORECAST RAISED ON AI-RELATED DEMANDOfficial data released on Monday showed Singapore's non-oil domestic exports expanded 9.6% in Q1 2026, led by the electronics segment with growth of 57.8%.Enterprise Singapore raised its export grow...
