Growth of 8 core sectors slows to 2.1% in July, recovers from 50-month low

Yet, it recovers from a 50-month low in June as cement output jumps

A spurt in cement production and slower contraction in the energy segment managed to pull up growth in the eight core sectors of the economy marginally to 2.1 per cent in July. Growth had collapsed to only 0.2 per cent — a 50-month low — in June.

Still, growth was much slower than in July last year when it was 7.3 per cent.

The data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Monday showed that the coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity sectors showed poor performance across the board. The only exception was cement, which