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Economy · 2 stories · About 2 minutesPublished 5:55 am IST

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  1. 01EconomyIndia’s Q1 FY27 GDP growth quickens to 7.8%, beating central bank projections
  2. 05EconomyIran’s inflation reaches 84.4% as US expands secondary sanctions campaign

India’s Q1 FY27 GDP growth quickens to 7.8%, beating central bank projections

What happened

India’s economy expanded by 7.8% in the April-June quarter (Q1 FY27), accelerating from a revised 6.9% reported in the same period a year earlier. The performance surpassed the Reserve Bank of India’s 7% projection and exceeded a 7.3% forecast from an Economic Times poll. Growth was driven by manufacturing, private investment expansion, consumer spending, exports, and government capital expenditure.

Why it matters

The stronger-than-expected expansion demonstrates that robust domestic consumption and public investment helped buffer the economy against external pressures, including shockwaves from the US-Iran war. Beating central bank expectations by 80 basis points highlights immediate operational resilience across India’s industrial manufacturing and capital spending sectors during global geopolitical conflicts.

Bigger picture

Sustained government capital expenditure alongside strong internal consumer demand continues to anchor India’s structural baseline. Robust internal market dynamics provide a critical cushion against international market instability, keeping national expansion trajectory ahead of initial official economic estimates.

Watch next

Watch whether the Reserve Bank of India revises its full-year growth projections or adjusts monetary policy in response to the Q1 beat, while tracking prolonged supply chain or energy cost spillovers from the US-Iran conflict.

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Iran’s inflation reaches 84.4% as US expands secondary sanctions campaign

A view of a shop in the Darakeh neighborhood of Tehran, showing various goods displayed in a storefront.
Photo: Nasser-sadeghi / Wikimedia CommonsCC BY 3.0

What happened

Iranian inflation has escalated to 84.4% following the expansion of a US secondary sanctions campaign known as Operation Economic Outcast. The US effort introduced unprecedented trade blockades and financial restrictions against Iran. These measures have severely depleted Tehran’s foreign exchange reserves while driving up basic food prices across the country.

Why it matters

The depletion of foreign exchange reserves directly restricts Tehran's capacity to fund essential imports and absorb international financial shocks. At the same time, soaring basic food prices erode domestic household purchasing power, illustrating how trade blockades rapidly convert geopolitical sanctions into immediate domestic economic disruption.

Bigger picture

Operation Economic Outcast demonstrates how aggressive secondary sanctions and targeted trade blockades can destabilize foreign exchange liquidity in isolated markets. The resulting price surges highlight the heightened economic fragility of nations subject to comprehensive international financial isolation.

Watch next

Watch for Iranian policy responses to manage depleted foreign exchange reserves, further tracking of basic food prices, and official international reactions to the US sanctions expansion.

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