# Barclays forecast for 2026 economic growth comes in at 1.1 per cent.

*fintech · news · 2026-04-16 · City A.M.*

## Key points

- Barclays holds the most optimistic macroeconomic forecasts among FTSE 100 banks for UK growth.
- Barclays predicts 1.1% UK economic growth for 2026, above Lloyds’ 0.7% and the 1% independent average.
- Barclays and HSBC are the only lenders with growth forecasts above the independent average, but HSBC aligns later.
- Barclays' unemployment forecast for 2026 is 0.5% below the independent average, indicating more optimism.
- Macroeconomic downgrades could hurt Barclays most, due to its less conservative internal models.

**Companies:** Barclays, HSBC
**Countries:** UK, US, Iran, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Spain

[Read the full story on City A.M.](https://www.cityam.com/barclays-most-hurt-bank-to-uk-economy-downgrades/)

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