Output of eight core industries contracts 1.3% in December 2020

During April-December 2020-21, the sectors' output declined by 10.1 per cent against a growth rate of 0.6 per cent in the same period of the previous year

The output of eight core infrastructure sectors contracted for the third month in a row by 1.3 per cent in December, dragged down by poor show by crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel and cement sectors.

The core sectors had expanded by 3.1 per cent in December 2019, according to the provisional data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday. Barring coal and electricity, all sectors recorded negative growth in December 2020.

During April-December 2020-21, the sectors’ output declined by 10.1 per cent against a growth rate of 0.6 per cent in the same period of the previous