Fiji, Aug. 3 -- Samoa's strong post-pandemic recovery has slowed sharply, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning that weaker domestic demand, rising global energy prices and persistent structural challenges are weighing on the economy and clouding the near-term outlook.

The IMF, in its 2026 Article IV Consultation concluding statement, estimated Samoa's economy grew by just 0.4 percent in FY2025/26, down from 4.2 percent the previous fiscal year, reflecting weak household consumption, subdued private investment, lower agricultural output and the fading impact of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Fund expects growth to recover gradually to 2 percent in FY2026/27, supported by an expansionary fisca...