The growth of eight core infrastructure sectors slowed down to 2.6 per cent in April this year, due to negative growth in crude oil, natural gas and fertilizer output. According to the government data released today, during April last year, the expansion rate of eight infrastructure sectors coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity -stood at 4.7 per cent.

Coal generation growth was flat at 2.8 per cent in last month. The output of electricity was 5.8 per cent and refinery products was 4.3 per cent, respectively. Crude oil, natural gas, and fertilizers sectors posted decline in growth during the month.

The infrastructure sector growth has impact on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as these segments account for about 41 per cent of the total factory output.