GST mop-up dips but stays above Rs 1 trillion for the second month

August number contrasts sharp pick-up seen in daily e-way bill generation

Goods and services tax (GST) collection moderated in August to Rs 1.12 trillion as against Rs 1.16 trillion in July, but exceeded the Rs 1-trillion mark for the second month as economic activity gained pace with a decline in Covid-19 cases, official data released on Wednesday showed.
 
Robust revenues should help the government increase expenditure to ensure economic revival. However, experts cautioned against reading too much into the recovery as GST collections dipped sequentially, core sector growth fell short of expectation in July, and the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for manufacturing also fell.
 
The latest GST numbers pertain