Core sector growth slows to 4.1% in March, down from Feb's 5.3%

In 2017-18, the eight core sectors rose by 4.2%, down from 4.8% growth in the year before

Growth in combined output of the economy's eight core sectors slowed in March to 4.1 per cent, down from 5.3 per cent in February and 6.1 per cent in January.

The March growth was largely a result of persistent rise in cement production, up 13 per cent, and a sudden 9.1 per cent growth in coal output. Apart from these, the sectors comprising crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel and electricity make the core sector grouping. Their contribution is about 40 per cent to total industrial production.

In March, five sectors performed less well than a month earlier.