Core sector growth drops to 3% in Nov

A sharp decline in five of the six core sector industries, especially crude oil and steel, pulled down infrastructure growth to 3% in November 2005 when compared with a growth rate of 5.7% in November 2004.

Only one sector - petroleum refining - managed to post a slightly higher rate of growth at 1.3% in November 2005 as against 1% in November 2004.

While crude oil production fell sharply to register a negative growth of 8.6%, steel output dropped almost 50% to 5.3% as against a growth of 10.2% in November 2004.

Cement production grew by only 7.8% as compared to 11.4%, electricity output rose by 2.7% as against 3.4%, and coal production increased 7.1% as against 7.3% in November 2004.

Cumulative growth of the six core sectors between April-November 2005-06 declined to 4.4% as against a growth of 6.7% in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Except cement, all the five sectors posted lower growth rates between April-November 2005.