A strong show by the manufacturing sector offset the slowdown in power generation and mining to propel the growth in index of industrial production (IIP) to 9.7% in August this year as against 7.6% in August 2005.According to data released by the government today, the manufacturing sector grew by a robust 11.1% as against 8.5% in August 2005. While mining registered a decline of 0.1% as compared to a negative 2.5 per cent, power generation increased at a slower rate of 3.7% as against 7.9% in August 2005.As per use-based classification, the consumer durables sector recorded the highest growth of 20.2% in August this year as compared to 13% last year.The capital goods sector registered a growth of 14.7%. While consumer goods industry grew by 14.6%, consumer non-durables increased by 12.6 % in August 2006.IIP recorded a growth of 10.6% during the first five months of the current fiscal as against 8.7% in the corresponding period of 2005-06. On a cumulative basis (April-August 2006-07), manufacturing increased by 11.8% from 9.6% last fiscal. The growth in the mining sector was also better at 3.1% as against 1.6% in the first five months of 2005-06. Electricity sector has posted a growth of 5.7% so far this fiscal, which is slightly lower than 6% between April-August 2005.
