Six core sectors post lower growth in Apr-Oct

Six core sectors post lower growth in Apr-Oct
ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU

NEW DELHI, NOV 22: Six key infrastructure sectors including electricity, coal, steel, petroleum and cement, posted a 7.9% growth during the first seven months of the current fiscal as against 8.9% growth in the same period the previous year.

The growth rate in the six sectors during October 2000 improved to 11.7% as compared to 9.5% in the corresponding month last year, according to the latest performance data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry here.

The coal sector recovered from a negative growth rate of 1.1per cent in April-October 1999-2000 to post a healthy eight% growth during the same period in the current fiscal. However, crude petroleum declined to a negative growth of0.3% during the first seven months of 2000-01 as against 0.7% growth rate last year. Petroleum refinery products showed the highest growth rate of 30.1% in April-October 2000-01 as compared to 19.1% in the same period the previous year.

Growth rate in electricity sector declined to 4.6% in April-October 2000-01 as against 7.9% recorded in the same period last year. Steel sector also recorded slowdown at 11.9%growth in the first seven months of the current fiscal as compared to 14% growth rate in the corresponding period last year.