The eight key core sectors contracted for the ninth consecutive month in November, posing some concerns for policy makers in the new year. The key infrastructure sectors contracted 2.6% in November, sharper than the 0.9% decline in the previous month. The core sectors had witnessed 0.7% growth in the same month last year.
The crucial sector accounts for nearly 41% of the index of industrial production and the November numbers may impact the factory output, which will be released later. Between April and November, the core sector contracted 11.4%.
Separate data showed the Centre’s fiscal deficit touched 135.1% of the 2020-21 Budget estimates. The deficit at the end of November 2019 was at114% of the Budget target for 2019-20. Sluggish revenues and higher spending commitment has widened the deficit and most economists expect it to be way above the Budget target of 3.5% of GDP set for the current fiscal year.
With four months still left in the fiscal year, the government’s fiscal deficit had already climbed to Rs 10.8 lakh crore in April-November 2020, 33% higher than the year-ago level, and 35% higher than the full year Budget estimate.
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