Core sector output at a four-month high of 7.8% in January, shows data

Production of eight infrastructure industries — the core sector — expanded 7.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in January, its fastest pace in four months, owing to a lower base and a near all-round showing. Seven of the eight industries reported output growth.

The data released by the industry department on Tuesday showed greater acceleration over the previous month in the output of five sectors like coal (13.4 per cent), electricity (12 per cent), natural gas (5.3 per cent), refinery products (4.5 per cent) and fertilisers (17.9 per cent). Growth in steel (6.2 per cent) and cement (4.6 per cent) decelerated over the previous month but remained in expansion territory. The crude oil industry, however, contracted for the eighth consecutive month. The output shrunk by -1.1 per cent YoY.