Singapore's Economy Grows 5.4 Percent in the Third Quarter, Above the 5 Percent Forecast

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry said in advance estimates on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, that gross domestic product grew 5.4 percent year on year in the July-September quarter, above the 5 percent forecast but below the 6.2 percent expansion of the second quarter. The economy grew 1.1 percent from the previous quarter, which data source describes as the softest quarterly growth since the start of 2025.\n\nManufacturing, led by semiconductors, grew 7.5 percent and construction, including AI-related data centres, grew 8.8 percent. According to Singapore's government, the city-state accounts for about 10 percent of global semiconductor output. The IMF forecasts 5 percent growth for 2026.\n\nThe Monetary Authority of Singapore, which manages policy through the exchange rate, left its settings unchanged the same day and said it expects AI-driven growth to ease in the second half of next year. It forecast 2026 core inflation averaging 1.5 to 2.0 percent.