Core Industries’ Output Growth falls to 1.4 Percent in Feb

India’s core industries output growth slowed to a four-month low of 1.4 percent in February, on the back of a contraction in the production of steel, fertilisers and refinery products, government data showed on Tuesday.

The eight core industries’ had expanded by 6.1 percent in February 2014. The growth was 1.8 percent in January 2015.

The infrastructure sector, comprising coal, crude oil, oil refining, natural gas, steel, cement, electricity and fertilisers, accounts for 38 percent of the country’s overall industrial production.

Production of crude oil and natural gas in February fell by 1.9 percent and 8.1 percent respectively.

Refinery products, fertiliser and steel output declined by 1 percent, 0.4 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. However, coal, cement and electricity production grew by 11.6 percent, 2.7 percent and 5.2 percent respectively.

For the 11-month period (April-February) of 2014-15, the eight sectors grew by 3.8 percent as compared to 4.2 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal. (IANS)