Output growth in eight core industries slowed to 2.0 per cent in March 2012, as against 6.5 per cent in the year-ago period. In February, the eight infrastructure industries grew by 6.8 per cent.
The fall was largely on account of a fall in output in the crude oil, petroleum refinery production and natural gas sectors.
During the fiscal year 2012, the cumulative growth rate of the core sector industries was 4.3 per cent as against 6.6 per cent in 2010-11.
Crude oil and natural gas growth rates were in the negative zone at (-) 2.9 per cent and (-) 10.1 per cent in March 2012 respectively. Crude oil and natural gas had grown by 12.1 per cent and (-) 10. 6 per cent respectively in the corresponding month a year ago.
Petroleum refinery production registered a growth of 1.6 per cent in March 2012 compared with its 8.5 per cent growth in March 2011.
Steel, electricity and fertiliser production too slowed to 2.3 per cent, 2.1 per cent, and 1.5 per cent respectively in March 2012, as against 12.0 per cent, 7.6 per cent and 3.9 per cent in March 2011.
Defying the trend, coal and cement output grew by 6.8 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively. These sectors had registered a growth of (-) 1.1 per cent and 6.5 per cent in March 2011.