Eight core industries grew at a slower pace of 2.1 per cent in August, as against 3.8 per cent in the same month last year due tonegative growth in crude oil, natural gas, fertiliser and cement.

According to official data released today, during April-August this fiscal, the growth has slowed to 2.8 per cent, from 5.5 per cent in the year ago period.

The data says, the moderation in growth was on account of the negative growth in the production of natural gas, cement, fertilisers and crude oil, besides a decline in the growth rates of steel and electricity production.

Natural gas and crude oil production contracted by 13.5 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively in August.

Fertiliser and cement output also shrunk by 2.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent during the month under review.

Steel and electricity production slowed to 1.8 per cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively.

However coal and petroleum refinery output grew by 11 per cent in August.