Core sector output shrinks 0.4% in April
2 Jun 2015 1:36 AM GMT
Declining for the second month in a row, the output of eight core industries contracted by 0.4 per cent in April on poor performance of electricity, cement, refinery products and fertiliser sectors, bolstering the case for a rate cut by RBI on Tuesday.
Coal and steel were only two sectors that saw some <g data-gr-id="31">growth,</g> while crude oil and natural gas also recorded lower output in April. The output had declined by 0.1 per cent in March <g data-gr-id="30">2015,</g> while it had seen a growth of 5.7 per cent a year ago in April 2014.
The latest core sector data came a day ahead of the RBI’s scheduled monetary policy review where the central bank is widely expected to lower the rates to further boost the investment flow and the core sector output. The overall growth of eight core industries in the entire 2014-15 fiscal stood at 3.5 per cent against 4.2 per cent in the previous fiscal.The growth rate of core sector industries has been declining since November last year. It was 6.7 <g data-gr-id="24">per cent</g> in November 2014, which fell to 2.4 per cent in December 2014 and then to 1.8 <g data-gr-id="25">per cent</g> in January and 1.4 per cent in February.
The eight sectors contribute 38 per cent to the overall industrial production, a parameter that the Reserve Bank takes into account while framing its monetary policy.
In April 2015, the output of crude oil declined by 2.7 <g data-gr-id="20">per cent</g>, natural gas by 3.6 <g data-gr-id="21">per cent</g>, electricity by 1.1 per cent and cement by 2.4 per cent. The production of refinery products too declined by 2.9 <g data-gr-id="22">per cent</g> and fertiliser output shrunk by 0.04 per cent. Growth in steel output slowed down to 0.6 <g data-gr-id="23">per cent</g> in April as against 6.9 per cent in the same month last year. Coal production grew by 7.9 per cent during the first month of 2015-16.
‘Don’t take economic freedom for granted’
Asserting that values are very important in both professional and personal lives, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has asked students not to take economic freedom for granted. Rajan was addressing the students of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School’s graduation here over the weekend.
“Rajan emphasised <g data-gr-id="68">on </g>the importance of practising the right values and not to take economic freedom for granted,” a statement from the organisers said. Urging the students to understand and appreciate the role of markets, the academic-turned-central banker said that in a democratic society, money can help provide equal access to opportunities.
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