Some signs of improvement are visible in the economy now, with factory output growth rebounding to 13-month high of 3.4 per cent in April and retail inflation easing to 8.23 per cent in May on account of falling prices of essential food items.
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) surged in April after contracting for two consecutive months, mainly due to better performance of manufacturing, mining and power sectors and higher output of capital goods. The previous high of 3.5 per cent was recorded in March, 2013.
As regards inflation, subdued prices of vegetables, cereals and dairy products pulled down the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to three-month low of 8.28 per cent in May.
Commenting on data released today, CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said: "The return of industrial growth to the positive terrain is noteworthy and has rekindled the hope of industrial recovery which is critical to lift the economy and mark a return to the path of growth."
Manufacturing, which constitutes over 75 per cent of the index, grew 2.6 per cent in April compared to a growth of 1.8 per cent a year ago.
Production of capital goods, a barometer of demand, grew by 15.7 per cent in April in sharp contrast to a contraction in output by 0.3 per cent in same month last year.
The mining sector grew by 1.2 per cent in April as against a dip of 3.4 per a year earlier.
Power generation increased by 11.9 per cent in the month as compared to 4.2 per cent in April, 2013.
The IIP showed growth of 1.5 per cent in April, 2013.
In March this year, the growth in output contracted by 0.5 per cent after revision of the provisional estimates.
Overall, 14 of the 22 industry groups in manufacturing showed a positive growth in April.
The IIP in 2013-14 has declined by 0.1 per cent mainly due to poor performance of manufacturing sector. In 2012-13, it registered a meagre expansion of 1.1 per cent.
