Core sector growth up 3.6% in May from 2.8% in April on energy push

Electricity, refinery products, natural gas drive numbers, coal, fertilisers, steel drag

Core sector output rose by 3.6 per cent in May, up from the 2.8 per cent rise the previous month of April.

The improving pace of growth, counted year on year, was primarily led by the electricity sector supported by refinery products and natural gas.

Data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday also showed that the eight core industries — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity — had cumulative growth of 3.2 per cent in the first two months of the current financial year.

This is less than