Weekly Data Snapshot: Key Economic and Climate Trends
This week brought a mix of financial results and global developments. We break down the numbers through easy-to-read charts and clear analysis. From corporate performance to environmental alerts, here is your data-driven overview.
IT Sector Shows Mixed Quarterly Results
India's leading IT services companies reported varied outcomes for the third quarter of FY26. Revenue growth generally outpaced net profits across the board. The sector continues to adjust to new government labour codes.
HCL Technologies led with a strong 13.3% year-on-year revenue increase. Infosys followed closely with an 8.9% rise. Wipro and TCS recorded more modest growth of 5.5% and 4.9% respectively.
However, net profits faced significant pressure. TCS experienced a 13.9% decline, while HCLTech saw an 11.1% drop. Wipro and Infosys reported smaller decreases of 6.6% and 2.2% respectively.
Retail Inflation Climbs in December
India's retail inflation rose to 1.3% in December from 0.7% the previous month. This increase primarily resulted from food prices falling at a slower rate. Core inflation also edged upward during this period.
Wholesale price inflation turned positive at 0.8% after two consecutive months of negative readings. This shift signals the end of the ultra-low inflation phase that characterized recent months.
Retail inflation has remained below the Reserve Bank of India's 2-6% target range for five of the last six months. The RBI's upcoming policy decisions will likely consider multiple factors including the Union Budget and revised economic data.
Direct Tax Collections Grow Below Target
The Centre collected ₹18.4 trillion in net direct taxes until January 11 of this financial year. This represents an 8.8% increase from the previous year, falling short of the 11% growth projected in the Budget.
Corporate tax revenue expanded by 12.4% to reach ₹8.63 trillion. Non-corporate tax revenue, which includes personal income taxes, grew at a slower pace of 6.4%. Securities transaction tax collections barely increased at 0.7%.
While tax collections may miss Budget targets, analysts suggest that non-tax revenue and expenditure adjustments could help the government maintain its fiscal deficit goal of 4.4%.
Key Numbers This Week
- $4 trillion: Alphabet achieved this market capitalization milestone, joining Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple in this exclusive club.
- ₹2.72 trillion: The road ministry's likely budget allocation as the government seeks more private investment despite slowing highway construction.
- 100,000: Visas revoked by the US State Department, including approximately 8,000 student visas under current immigration policies.
- 50%: Potential domestic content requirement for battery storage systems in wind and solar projects to reduce import dependence.
- 80: India's improved passport ranking, now allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations worldwide.
US Tariff Threats Impact Chabahar Port
Recent US tariff proposals targeting countries doing business with Iran create uncertainty for India's strategic investments. While direct trade impact remains limited, India's Chabahar Port project faces potential jeopardy.
The port serves as a crucial alternative route bypassing Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and West Asia. Cargo movement currently stands at 2.2 million tonnes against an 8 million tonne capacity. US policy decisions continue to influence the port's operational stability.
2025 Among Warmest Years on Record
The World Meteorological Organization confirmed that 2025 ranked among the three warmest years in recorded history. Six of eight global climate datasets placed it as the third warmest year over 176 years of records.
Global surface temperatures averaged 1.47℃ above pre-industrial levels. While slightly cooler than 2023 and 2024, the past eleven years have all been record warmers, consistently exceeding 1.0℃ above baseline levels.
Most concerning, the past three years have either reached or surpassed the critical 1.5℃ threshold established in the Paris Agreement. This trend highlights the accelerating pace of climate change impacts worldwide.
