Infra sector grows by 3.2% in August

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 30

The infrastructure sector recorded a growth rate of 3.2% in August up from 3% in the previous month. Analysts said there is nothing much to cheer about and it is indicative of the sluggish nature of industrial activity.

The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity — in August 2015 was also 3.2%.

The core sectors, which contribute 38% to the country’s total industrial production, had expanded by 3% in July.

As per data released by the government, the cumulative growth of the sector during April-August period of the fiscal was 4.5% against 2.4% in the same period last fiscal.

Sunil Sinha, Principal Economist, India Ratings, said overall there is nothing to cheer about so far as the core sector data of August is concerned and it is indicative of sluggish nature of industrial activity in the economy.