Output of eight core industries rises 4.2% in April

The output of eight core industries increased 4.2% in April, boosted by higher electricity, fertiliser and cement production.

The coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity sectors had expanded 3.7% in the same month last year. Growth in these industries decelerated to 2.7% in 2013-14.

The eight industries have a combined weight of about 38% in the Index of Industrial Production.

Electricity production increased 11.2% in April, fertilisers 11.1%, cement 6.7% and coal 3.3%, all at a faster pace than a year earlier.

Steel production increased 3.1% compared with 10.1% in the same month last year.

The crude oil, natural gas and petroleum refinery product sectors contracted 0.1%, 7.7% and 2.2%, respectively, in April.