May core sector growth 2.8% YoY

Growth in the output of six key infrastructure industries stood at 2.8% in May 2009 as against 3.1% in the same month last year, the Government said. The core sector growth was at 5% in April 2009. The index for the six key industries rose to 250.1 in May from 243.2 in the corresponding month a year earlier, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release in New Delhi.

Crude oil production shrank by 4.3% in May 2009 compared to a growth rate of 3.2% in May 2008. Petroleum refinery production declined by 4.3% in May 2009 compared to growth of 0.1% in May 2008. Electricity generation registered a growth of 3.3% in May 2009 compared to a growth rate of 2.0% in May 2008. Coal production registered a growth of 10.2% in May 2009 compared to growth rate of 8.8% in May 2008.

Cement production registered a growth of 11.6% in May 2009 compared to 3.8% in May 2008. Finished steel production registered a growth of 1.4% in May 2009 compared to 3.3% in May 2008. During the first two months of the current fiscal year (April-May 2009-10), the six infrastructure industries registered a growth rate of 3.9% as against 2.7% in April-May 2008-09.