Industrial output up 9.7 per cent in August

New Delhi, Oct 12: Industrial output in August 2006 slowed to 9.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis, down from the 12.7 per cent growth scaled in July.

The cumulative growth for April-August 2006 stood at 10.6 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) here today.

Indices for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month stood at 138.2, 250.3 and 200.6 respectively, registering a growth of (-) 0.1 per cent, 11.1 per cent and 3.7 per cent compared to August 2005.

The mining sector lagged behind with a growth of minus 0.1 per cent over the year-ago period while the electricity sector saw slow growth of 3.7 per cent against 7.9 per cent performance in August 2005, according to the figures.

Manufacturing, occupying two-thirds weight in the index, registered a 11.1 per cent growth in August 2006 against 13.3 per cent logged in July.

As many as 14 of the 17 industry groups displayed positive growth particularly Machinery and Equipment other than Transport Equipment which racked up the 20.3 per cent growth -- the highest -- followed by Other Manufacturing Industries at 18.6 per cent, and Beverages, Tobacco and Related Products at 16.4 per cent.

However, the industry group Wood and Wood Products; Furniture and Fixtures showed negative growth of 14.6 per cent, followed by Leather and Leather and Fur Products at 2.6 per cent and Paper and Paper Products and Printing, Publishing and Allied Industries of 2.5 per cent, the figures show.

As per use-based classification, Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables rose by 20.2 per cent and 12.6 per cent with the overal growth in Consumer goods being 14.6 per cent.

Indices for July 2006 have undergone first revision and those for May 2006 the second revision following updated data received from the source agencies, but these are not significant revisions, the release said.

UNI