India's December industrial output up 1.7 percent

India's industrial activity, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), registered growth of 1.7 percent during December 2014 from a 0.1 percent increase during the corresponding month of 2013.

In November, the IIP had increased by 3.8 percent, while in October it decelerated by 4.2 percent.

The cumulative growth for April-December period of 2014-15 stood at 2.1 percent while the figure for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal stood at 0.1 percent.

The gain in the month under review came mainly due to the higher output of manufacturing sectors.

In December, the manufacturing sector grew by 2.1 percent from a negative growth of 1.1 percent in the corresponding month of 2013.

Electricity sector rose 4.8 percent over the 7.5 percent increase in December 2013.

However, the mining sector declined 3.2 percent from an increase of 2.6 percent in the corresponding month of 2013.

Manufacturing of basic, capital and intermediate goods showed growth during the month under review. Production of basic goods grew by 2.4 percent, while capital goods was up 4.1 percent and intermediate goods rose by 0.1 percent.

Overall, 13 out of the 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during the month under review.

Segment-wise, growth was witnessed in conductor, aluminium (132.9 percent), gems and jewellery (81.8 percent), pens (47.7 percent), leather garments (38.9 percent), air conditioners (20.5 percent), scooters and mopeds (27.9 percent) and plastic machinery including moulding machinery (24.7 percent).

Segment-wise, high negative growth was reported in ship building and repairs (-52.3 percent), wood furniture (-26.5 percent), sugar machinery (-48.6 percent), tractors (- 42.6 percent), computers (- 36 percent), glass sheet (- 31.6 percent), colour TV sets (- 26.6 percent), steel structures (- 24.3 percent) and telephone instruments including mobile phones and accessories(-80.1 percent).