The output of eight core infrastructure industries shrank by 23.4 per cent in May due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry data releases today, barring fertiliser, all seven sectors – coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement, and electricity – had recorded negative growth in May.

During April-May 2020-21, the sectors output dipped by 30 per cent as compared to 4.5 per cent in the same period previous year. The eight core sectors had expanded by 3.8 per cent in May 2019.

These eight industries accounts for 40.27 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).