Industrial output growth down to 0.1% in March

Source: PTI

The performance of consumer goods segment was also dismal as it recorded a meagre growth of 0.4 per cent in March compared to a contraction of 0.6 per cent a year ago. During 2014-15, the output of these goods grew at 3 per cent compared to a decline in production by 3.5 per cent.

However, consumer durables performed well and recorded a growth of 8.7 per cent in March this year compared to contraction of 4.6 per cent. During the entire fiscal, the output of these goods grew by 11.2 per cent compared a decline in production by 12.6 per cent.

The consumer non-durable goods output contracted by 4.4 per cent in March compared to a growth of 1.9 per cent in same month a year ago. During the fiscal under review, the output declined by 1.7 per cent compared to a growth of 2.8 per cent in 2014-15.

The production of intermediate goods grew at 3.7 per cent in March compared to a growth of 2.8 per cent in same month a year ago. The basic goods output too registered a growth of 4 per cent in March as against 2.6 per cent a year ago.

Some important items showing high positive growth include Wood Furniture, Leather Garments, Telephone Instruments, Tea, Transformers (small), Cashew Kernels, Scooter and Mopeds, Aluminium Conductor and Commercial Vehicles.

The items that registered high negative growth during the current month include Cable, Rubber Insulated, Polythene Bags, Cement Machinery, Heat Exchangers, H R Sheets, Ship Building and Repairs, Lubricating oil, Sugar, Furnace oil, Molasses and Woollen Carpets.