Core sectors' growth slows down to 2.1% in February

According to the data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Index of Eight Core Industries (ECI) had risen by 5.4 per cent during the same period last year.

New Delhi: The output of eight major industries slowed down in February to 2.1 per cent year-on-year, official data showed on Monday.

According to the data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Index of Eight Core Industries (ECI) coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had risen by 5.4 per cent during the same period last year.

However, on a sequential basis, the index rose marginally to 2.1 per cent in February from 1.5 per cent in January 2019.

The core sector index carries 40.27 per cent weight of the items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

"The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 125.8 in February 2019, which was 2.1 per cent higher as compared to the index of February 2018. Its cumulative growth during April to February, 2018-19 was 4.3 per cent," the Ministry said in a statement.