Core sector growth slows down to 2.6% in Dec on crude oil, fertilisers

The eight sectors recorded a growth of 4.8% during Apr-Dec 2018-19, as compared to 3.9% in the same period of the previous financial year

Eight core sectors grew at their slowest pace in 18 months at 2.6 per cent in December 2018 due to fall in output of crude oil, refinery products and fertilisers, official data showed Thursday.

The previous lowest expansion in output of these key industries was recorded in June 2017 at 1 per cent.

The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- stood at 3.8 per cent in December 2017.

Crude oil, refinery products and fertiliser production recorded negative growth of 4.3 per cent, 4.8 per cent and 2.4 per