Core sector growth rises to 4-mth high

New Delhi: The country’s core sector growth accelerated to a four-month high in Dec. Data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Tuesday showed the eight core sectors, spanning coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, rose an annual 3.7% in Dec, faster than the 2.1% in Nov but below the 5.1% in Dec 2024. Three sectors – crude oil, natural gas, refinery products – contracted during the month. Crude oil sector contracted for fourth consecutive month in Dec, declining 5.6%, compared to a fall of 3.2% in Nov. The natural gas sector continued its decline since Dec 2024 and fell by 4.4% during the month, refinery products segment contracted for the second month in row, declining by 1% in Dec.Cement sector rose 13.5% in Dec, slower than 14.6% while steel segment 6.9%, marginally higher than 6.7% expansion recorded in Nov. The electricity sector grew by 5.3% in the month compared with a contraction of 1.5%.