New Delhi: Reflecting the continued weakness in economic activity, the eight core sectors contracted 0.5 per cent in August to a three-and-a-half year low of 0.5 per cent, as production in five key sectors shrank and showed negative growth. Five industries–coal, crude oil, natural gas, cement, and electricity–recorded negative growth. The eight sectors had expanded by 4.7 per cent in August last year, according to government data released on Monday.
The previous low was recorded at -1.3 in November 2015.
