Growth in country's 8 core sectors slowed to 2.5% in April this year

Growth in the country's eight core sectors slowed to 2(point)5 per cent in April this year, from 8.7 per cent in April last year. This was mainly due to lower coal, crude oil and cement production. 

According to government data released today, coal production declined 3.8 percent, crude oil output fell 0.6



percent, and cement production dropped 3.7 per cent in April. Growth in refinery products slowed to 0.2 percent, and electricity generation slowed to 4.7 per cent in April. But natural gas output rose 2 percent, fertiliser output increased 6.2 percent, and steel production grew 9.3 per cent during the month.