Global technology outlays are projected to reach $5.6 trillion in 2026, a 7.8% rise from $5.2 trillion in 2025, with Asia Pacific and North America leading the expansion. Investment is concentrating on AI infrastructure such as data centers and semiconductors, while hyperscalers and chipmakers are set to benefit from expected double‑digit growth in cloud services and the semiconductor industry.

India's Economic Survey for 2026 was presented in Parliament on January 29, 2026, outlining how the economy performed in 2025 and its projected trajectory for 2026. The report anticipates GDP growth of 7.4%, driven by strong consumption and investment, alongside robust expansion in services and manufacturing. It also highlights historically low inflation of 1.33% in December 2025 and notes recent credit rating upgrades that underscore India's improving fiscal credibility.

Canada signed a new trade deal with China, aiming to lift exports to the Chinese market by 50% by 2030. The update follows Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing last week and the completion of the TMX pipeline in 2024. Experts say 2025 U.S. tariffs on copper, steel, aluminum and energy shaped the decision.

On January 21, 2026, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse told CNBC he expects 2026 to be crypto's strongest year, citing regulatory progress and institutional adoption. According to market data, roughly $1.8 billion in BTC liquidations hit in the last 48 hours, while XRP trades near $1.88, below its January 5 peak of nearly $2.40.

In 2025, the U.S. labor market added about 580,000 jobs, the smallest annual increase since the COVID-19 pandemic and far below the 2 million positions created in 2024. Unemployment stood near 4.4% in December 2025, with roughly 7.5 million people jobless and millions more either wanting work or stuck in part-time roles for economic reasons. Analysts point to inflation, tariffs, corporate cost-cutting, AI-driven automation and a low quit rate as key forces behind the hiring freeze, and expect labor conditions in early 2026 to resemble 2025 even if unemployment gradually stabilizes later in the year.

As of January 2026, the Iranian rial trades near 1.5 million per U.S. dollar after a late‑2025 plunge. With inflation persistently above 40% and sanctions limiting trade, many residents have turned to dollar‑pegged stablecoins, while a September 2025 rule caps annual purchases at $5,000 and holdings at $10,000.