Core sector output at 6-month low; crude, natural gas hit most

Growth in the output of eight core infrastructure sectors decelerated sharply for a second straight month to hit a six-month low of 4.5 per cent in July from a year ago, as a conducive base effect waned considerably. The growth was as much as 13.2 per cent in June and 19.3 per cent, a 13-month peak, in May.

This may weigh down the growth of the index of industrial production (IIP) in July from 6.7 per cent in June, given that the core industries make up for 40.3 per cent of the IIP.

All eight sectors saw a month-on-month slowdown in growth, data from Commerce & Industry Ministry showed Wednesday. Sequentially, the output of the eight infrastructure sectors witnessed a 2.3 per cent drop in July.