Core sector rebounds sharply to grow at 5.4% in November: Govt data

Double-digit growth in cement, coal, steel

Growth in the output of the core sector, comprising eight infrastructure industries, rebounded sharply in November to increase at 5.4 per cent, owing to a lower base and double-digit expansion in four of the eight areas.

The data released by the industry department on Friday showed sequential acceleration in output growth in sectors like coal (12.3 per cent), steel (10.8 per cent), electricity (12.1 per cent), cement (28.6 per cent), and fertilisers (6.4 per cent).

However, crude oil (-1.1 per cent) and natural gas (-0.7 per cent) production contracted for the sixth and fifth consecutive month, respectively, along with that in refinery