Resolution criteria on PolyGram: This market will resolve to 'Yes' if the seasonally adjusted and annualized GDP growth rate for the full year 2026, as derived from the 'Advance Estimate' for Q4 2026, with a release by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) expected in January 2027, reports a growth rate below 0. Otherwise, this market will resolve to 'No'. The GDP release will be available at: https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product. Only the first available GDP report labeled as the 'Advance Estimate' for Q4 2026, which provides the initial full-year 2026 GDP growth rate, will be used for resolution. Any subsequent revisions or updates to the data will not be considered.
PolyGram is an on-chain prediction market where you trade YES or NO outcome shares with real USDC on Polygon. For this market, buy YES if you believe the event will happen, or NO if you think it won't. Your maximum loss is your stake — winning shares pay $1.00 each at resolution. Unlike sportsbooks, there is no house edge: prices are set by supply and demand from other traders and reflect the crowd's real-time probability.
Market outcomes
| Negative GDP growth in 2026? | 4% YES | 96% NO |
The U.S. economy would need to contract on a seasonally adjusted, annualised basis across the full calendar year 2026 for this market to resolve Yes. The BEA will publish its advance estimate for Q4 2026 in late January 2027, which will include the preliminary full-year growth figure used for settlement. Current order book pricing on Polymarket reflects a 4% implied probability of negative annual growth, suggesting traders assess recession risk as low but non-negligible heading into 2026.
Recession frequency provides context for interpreting this probability. The U.S. has experienced negative annual GDP growth in roughly one year per decade on average since 1945, with the most recent instances in 2008–2009 (−2.5%) and 2020 (−3.4%). The post-war median expansion lasts around five years; 2025 will mark the fifth year of the current cycle that began in mid-2020. Historical patterns alone do not predict recessions, but the 4% probability reflects a market view that near-term recession risk remains materially below the long-run frequency.
Key variables traders should monitor include labour market deterioration, yield curve dynamics, and credit conditions through 2025 and into early 2026. The Federal Reserve's policy trajectory—particularly whether rate cuts continue or pause—will influence borrowing costs and business investment. Manufacturing and services PMI readings, jobless claims trends, and corporate earnings revisions will signal economic momentum. Any sharp financial stress, geopolitical shock, or policy disruption in the months before the Q4 2026 data release could shift the probability materially, though the current order book suggests the crowd expects continued expansion.
Resolution is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon. A proposer submits the outcome, a two-hour dispute window opens, and if no one stakes a counter-claim the payout is final. Contested outcomes escalate to UMA token-holder voting. Payouts clear in USDC to the winning side.
The mechanics for trading "Negative GDP growth in 2026?" are the same as any other PolyGram event contract. Each YES share resolves to $1 if the event happens, or $0 if it doesn't. The current price between 0¢ and 100¢ is the market's probability estimate, set live by the order book.
$26K in lifetime turnover and $1K of resting liquidity puts this market in the around the median by volume for economy contracts on PolyGram. Order-book depth is thin — large orders may need to be split across the book or executed as limit orders.
The market has been open for 6 months — the price has had time to stabilise as new information arrived.
Higher-volume markets tend to have tighter spreads and faster price discovery — meaning the displayed YES/NO percentages are more likely to reflect the true crowd-implied probability rather than a single trader's directional view.
As of today, traders on Polymarket price this outcome at 4%. The number updates continuously as the order book clears. PolyGram mirrors the same live odds with locale-aware formatting and USDC settlement.
Resolution is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon. A proposer submits the outcome, a 2-hour dispute window opens, and if uncontested the payout is final. Contested outcomes escalate to UMA token holders.
This prediction market is scheduled to close on 29 January 2027. After the resolving event occurs, settlement typically clears within 24 hours once the UMA optimistic oracle confirms the outcome. All payouts are in USDC on the Polygon network.
To trade on this prediction market, create a free PolyGram account at polygram.ink, deposit USDC via Polygon, and place a YES or NO order on the outcome you believe in. You can learn more on our how-it-works page. Your maximum loss is limited to your stake — there is no leverage or margin.
When the outcome is determined, winning YES shares pay out $1.00 each in USDC, while losing shares pay $0. Settlement is handled by the UMA optimistic oracle on Polygon — a proposer submits the result, a two-hour dispute window opens, and if uncontested, payouts are distributed automatically. You can withdraw your winnings to any Polygon wallet.
Prediction-market positions can lose 100% of staked capital. Outcomes are uncertain by definition — historical accuracy of crowd-implied probabilities is high in aggregate but not for any single market. PolyGram does not provide investment advice. Trade only with capital you can afford to lose.
Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. Germany, the United States, and most EU countries treat Polymarket-style event contracts under one of three frameworks: financial derivative, gambling product, or unregulated novel asset. Consult local counsel before trading.
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