Economic growth slipped to 6.2% in the third quarter of 2004-05 from 11% in the year-ago period.The overall growth was also lower at 6.7% between April-December 2004-05 as against 8.6% in the year-ago period, according to figures released by Central Statistical Organisation today.The gross domestic product (GDP), measured in constant prices, till December was at Rs 11,13,956 crore while it was Rs 20,61,721 crore at current prices.The slowdown in GDP growth was mainly due to a 1.1% fall in farm output during October-December this fiscal as against a handsome 18.2% growth in the year-ago period. Manufacturing logged double-digit growth of 10.4% while trade, hotel, transport and communication activities grew by 10.5%. Mining and quarrying dropped to 4.8% in the third quarter of this fiscal as against a growth of 5.8% in the corresponding period of the previous year. Electricity, gas and water supply, however, increased by 4.4% from 3%.While construction grew by 8% (5.9% in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal), financing, insurance, real estate and business services moved up by 8.1% in Q3 of 2004-05 as against 7.3% in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Community, social and personal services grew by 5.8% in Q32004-05 as against 5.2% in the year-ago period.
