Core sector growth dips to 2.2 per cent in April; electricity, crude oil and coal industries contract

NEW DELHI: Showing clear signs of slowdown in the Indian economy, the growth rate of eight core sectors halved to 2.2 per cent in April on account of sharp dip in output of natural gas and fertilisers.

The infrastructure sector had grown 4.2 per cent in the same month last year.

The growth in March too moderated to 2.2 per cent, from 6.5 per cent in the same month last year.

The cumulative growth rate of infrastructure industries in 2011-12 dipped to 4.4 per cent, from 6.6 per cent in 2010-11, according to the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry today.

The eight industries, which also include crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel - have a weight of 37.9 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Economist said the poor performance of core industries clearly points to economic slowdown and will have implications for industrial production data to be released on June 12.

"The core sector numbers are very poor. It will effect IIP as well as economy as a whole. The GDP numbers are also down," Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi said.

Natural gas and crude oil production contracted by 11.3 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively during April.

Petroleum refinery products and fertiliser production shrunk 2.8 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively during the month.