New Delhi, Nov. 15 -- Every week, Mint's Plain Facts tracks key economic trends, data releases and global events shaping the week ahead.

October wholesale inflation is expected to rise sharply this week as higher crude oil prices and rising input costs across manufacturing add to price pressures.

In the US, minutes of the Federal Reserve's October meeting are due amid growing expectations of another rate hike in December, persistent inflation, and rising bond yields. At the same time, Anthropic's proposed Nasdaq listing will test investor appetite for AI valuations and the sustainability of billions of dollars in infrastructure commitments amid a broader technology selloff.

The October wholesale price index (WPI) data, due on 16 November, is expected to show a sharp rise in inflation, led by higher fuel costs. The Indian crude basket averaged nearly $120 per barrel last month.

Fuel and power already recorded the highest inflation among WPI components, at 25.9% in September, led by a 57% rise in crude petroleum and natural gas prices and a 40% increase in mineral oils, driven by West Asia war-related disruptions.

"The fuel component of WPI is expected to be higher as the Indian crude basket averaged around $120 per barrel. We expect headline WPI inflation to reach 12.1%-12.2%, or possibly higher, in October," said Gaura Sengupta, chief economist at IDFC First Bank.

Price pressures, however, extend beyond energy. Inflation in basic metals accelerated to 16.96% in September from 10.88% in August, while chemicals and chemical products inflation rose to 16.74% from 14.3%. Rubber and plastic products and textiles also saw faster price increases.

Economists also feel that the breadth of manufacturing inflation will be worth watching for the pressure on producer margins and the extent of cost pass-through to consumers.

Minutes of the US Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) October meeting, due on 18 November, will be watched closely for clues on the Fed's next policy move.

After raising rates by 25 basis points (bps) in September for the first time in more than three years, the Fed held its benchmark rate at 3.75%-4% in October, but two members dissented in favour of a 25 bps hike, signalling growing support for tighter policy.

Hawkish sentiment has since strengthened. Fed Governor Christopher Waller backed a 25 bps hike in December in a speech on Tuesday, while suggesting a 50 bps increase could be considered if core inflation remains elevated. US inflation rose to 3.6% in September, well above the Fed's 2% target, while the economy grew 3.4% in the third quarter, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter.

Bond markets are also pricing in greater rate concerns, with the 10-year US Treasury yield climbing to a multi-year high of 5.3% during early October, and continuing to be high since. Higher US yields could draw funds towards dollar assets, adding pressure on emerging-market currencies and equities, including India's.

Anthropic's proposed Nasdaq listing on 19 November could raise $90.4 billion, taking its valuation to as high as $1.4 trillion. The IPO would mark a major test of investor appetite for dedicated AI companies after years of heavy investment in the sector.

The listing also matters for Alphabet, Amazon and Nvidia, which have invested heavily in Anthropic and are tied to its infrastructure commitments. The company has committed $900 billion in future spending through deals with these tech giants, including $70 billion due in 2027.

However, the listing comes amid a broader selloff in technology stocks, with $2.5 trillion wiped off the Nasdaq and growing investor concerns over whether heavy AI investments can translate into sustainable revenues. Anthropic's revenues rose 1,200% in January-September 2026 from a year earlier, driven by demand for its Claude models. However, net losses of $104 billion over the same period remain a concern.

With rival OpenAI planning its own IPO early next year, Anthropic's market debut will also set a benchmark for valuations in the AI sector.Disclaimer Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from MINT. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at [email protected]