2.4.19

February 2019: Core sector growth slows to 2.1%


The growth of eight core sectors slowed down to 2.1% in February due to fall in output of crude oil and refinery products.

Eight infrastructure sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity — had expanded by 5.4% in February 2018.

Production of crude oil and refinery products contracted by 6.1%, and 0.8%, respectively, in February.

Growth rate of production of fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity slowed to 2.5%, 4.9%, 8% and 0.7% in February as against 5.2%, 5%, 23% and 4.6% in the same month of 2018, respectively.

However, coal and natural gas output grew by 7.3%, and 3.8%, respectively, in the month under review. Sluggish infrastructure sector growth will also have impact on the Index of Industrial Production as these segments account for about 41% of the total factory output.

According to commerce and industry ministry data, during April-February 2018-19, the eight sectors recorded a flat growth rate of 4.3% over the same period in the previous fiscal.


No comments: