India's industrial output grew by 6.8%

India's industrial output grew by 6.8% in July as against 6.4% in the same month a year ago. The Government revised upwards June figure, from a provisional estimate of 7.8%, to 8.2%. For the first four months of FY10, the industrial production grew by 4.6% compared with 5.6% in the same period a year earlier.

The manufacturing sector, which constitutes around 80% of the index of industrial production (IIP), grew by 6.8% in July against 6.9% in the same month last year. Mining output grew by 9.9% versus 2.8% in July 2008. Output of electricity generation rose by 4.2% during July compared to 4.5% in year-ago period.

Consumer durables sector expanded by 19.8% as against 13.9% in July last year while the Consumer Non-durable sector grew by 5% versus 3.4% in the year-ago period. The overall consumer goods sector registered a growth of 8.8% as against 5.9% in the same month last year.

Capital goods sector clocked a growth of 2% as against a whopping 17.9% in the year-ago period. Basic goods and intermediate goods sector grew by 4.8% and 9%, respectively versus 5.3% and 3% in the corresponding month last year.

As many as 15 out of 17 industry groups registered a positive growth in July. ‘Wool, Silk & Manmade Fibres’ showed the highest growth of 30.4%, followed by 15.2% in ‘Leather & Leather’ and 12.7% in ‘Rubber, Plastic, Petroleum & Coal Products’.

On the other hand, ‘Jute & Other Vegetable Fibre Textiles' showed a negative growth of 23.9% followed by 0.4% in ‘Cotton Textiles’.