Core industries output slips to 3.6% in May

The growth of India's eight core industries slowed down to 3.6 percent in the month of May, from 4.7 percent in April this year.

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 131.4 in May, which was 3.6 percent higher as compared to the index of May last year.

Meanwhile, cumulative growth during April to May, 2018-19 was 4.1 percent, as per Ministry of Commerce and Industry data.

Crude oil production declined by 2.9 percent in May over last year, while its cumulative index declined by 1.9 percent during April to May, 2018-19 over the corresponding period last year.

On the other hand, petroleum refinery production increased by 4.9 percent over last year, with a cumulative index increase of 3.9 percent during April to May, 2018-19 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Coal production also increased by 12.1 per cent in May this year over the same period last year, with a year-on-year increase in cumulative index by 14 percent.

Among other sectors witnessing an increase are fertilisers (8.4 percent), cement (5.2 percent) and steel production (0.5 percent).