The Hindu Business Line : Industrial output growth dips to 6.2 pc in October

Growth in industrial production during October this year dipped to a low of 6.2 per cent compared to 9.8 per cent in October 2005 mainly on account of poor performance of the manufacturing sector.

This is the lowest growth recorded during the first seven months of the current financial year, according to the official data released here on Tuesday.

Leading the laggard sectors was manufacturing, which registered a growth of six per cent in October against 10.9 per cent in the same month last year. Production in consumer goods sector recorded a growth of 0.5 per cent during October against 14.6 per cent in the same month of 2005.

While consumer durables grew by 2.4 per cent during October 2006 against 16.4 per cent in the same month last year, consumer non-durables went down to 0.4 per cent as against 14 per cent last year.

Capital goods output also has also slowed down considerably to 8.2 per cent during October against a high of 24.3 per cent in October last year. The basic goods sector, however, registered a growth of 9.9 per cent from seven per cent a year ago

Power generation went up by 9.7 per cent against 7.7 per cent last year, while mining output increased by four per cent against a decline in growth of 0.1 per cent in October 2005.

During April-October seven-month period, overall industrial production has increased by 10.3 per cent against 8.6 per cent in the first seven months of last fiscal.

For the seven-month period, manufacturing recorded 11.2 per cent rise, power generation increased by 7.1 per cent and mining output went up by 3.4 per cent against 9.7 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively.