Output growth of eight core infrastructure sector slows to 3.3% in August

It was the third successive month of such sequential contraction

Output growth in India’s eight core infrastructure sectors slowed to 3.3% in August, the slowest pace since November 2021. It dipped from 4.5% in July, with crude oil and natural gas continuing to report contractions while electricity and steel production clocked sharply lower expansions than the previous month.

The overall output levels in the eight sectors that make up 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), were 1.5% lower than July 2022 levels, marking the third successive month of such sequential contraction.

The Index of eight core industries for August stood at 138.6, the lowest level since March this year. While six sectors recorded growth from a year ago, on a month-on-month basis, just four industry segments clocked higher output.

Coal output grew 7.6% compared to August 2021, but was 3.92% below July’s levels, while refinery production jumped 7% year-on-year but was 4.8% lower than July 2022.