Our Scans · (LF.8) Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

• [New] Work on the next iteration of the trust framework, focusing on authentication, orchestration, and trusted attributes, is already underway, with a target release in 2027. UKAuthority
• [New] Asia Pacific offers large-scale growth opportunities due to rapid urbanization, transport modernization, and extensive public infrastructure programs. ReAnIn
• [New] If Claude becomes a core operating layer for enterprise work, Anthropic could become one of the defining AI platforms of the decade. investing.com
• [New] Analysts expect core price growth, excluding energy and food, to stay at 2.6%, significantly above the ECB's target. financialpost
• [New] Data center electricity use is projected to reach 945 TWh annually by 2030, equivalent to Japan's current consumption, with U.S. data centers expected to contribute nearly 50% of national electricity demand growth. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Middle East & Africa represent significant growth potential, driven by the need for energy access in remote and rural communities. ReAnIn
• [New] Headline inflation in the euro area is now projected at an average of 3.0% for 2026, set against economic growth of just 0.8%. investing.com
• [New] The U.S. dollar will remain strong since economic growth is accelerating and the U.S. is demographically stronger than the rest of the world, much of which is suffering from a demographic decline from aging populations. investing.com
• [New] A four-day heatwave could reduce quarterly labour productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points in the UK and up to two percentage points in the rest of western Europe. The Guardian
• [New] Elsewhere in Asia, India is expected to maintain robust momentum, with GDP growth projected at around 7% in 2026, driven by its young population and strong domestic consumption. Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)
• [New] Despite the strong global outlook, BloombergNEF has reduced its EV adoption forecast for a second consecutive year, mainly due to slower expected growth in China and the United States. Electric Cars Report
• [New] JPMorgan just raised its forecast for data-center capacity growth to 138 gigawatts through 2030, up from 122 gigawatts in its forecast last November. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The next phase of OpenAI's development will focus on creating personalized AGI assistants to help individuals manage daily tasks, work, learning, and exploration. X (formerly Twitter)
• [New] Data engineering in 2026 is not just about managing data; it is about unlocking its full potential to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. CloudThat Resources
• [New] Global real GDP growth is forecast at 2.2% in 2026, with the Eurozone seeing minimal growth of 0.2% while India is projected to grow 5.7%. Seeking Alpha
• Changes in government policy in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere and long-term growth in India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America will drive the demand expansion, OPEC said, despite impressive progress by China in its shift to renewable energy. MarineLink
• OPEC said in the report U.S. output of tight crude, another term for shale, likely peaked in 2025 at just over 9 million bpd, and sees modest total U.S. liquids supply growth of 400,000 bpd until 2030 and a production plateau thereafter. MarineLink
• The opportunity for UK businesses to benefit from AI deployment is substantial, and AI-enabled gains are expected to become the main source of the UK's continued productivity growth. GOV.UK
• Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest regional growth through 2033 due to expanding healthcare access, rising antibiotic consumption, and increasing prevalence of resistant bacterial infections. Persistence Market Research
• Foundational principles of the EU AI Act and the EU Platform Work Directive will, through ratification, now begin reaching markets beyond Europe. National Law Review
• Asia Pacific region is projected to achieve the fastest growth during the forecast period. Precedence Research

Last updated: 29 June 2026