“The decline in the core sector growth in August 2018 relative to the previous month was led by refinery production, coal, fertilisers and steel,” Aditi Nayar, principal economist at Icra, said.

“The slowdown in the growth rate of core sector output and automobile production, as well as an unfavourable base effect, are likely to dampen the IIP (index of industrial production) growth for August 2018 to 34.

“Moreover, a later start to the festive season in 2018 compared with 2017, may distort production trends in August-November 2018.

“However, the upward revision in the core sector growth for July 2018 to 7.3 per cent from 6.6 per cent is likely to translate into an improvement in the overall IIP growth for that month.”

During the April-August period of the current fiscal, the core sector grew 5.5 per cent against 3 per cent in the year-ago period.

The Telegraph

The growth of eight core industries slowed to 4.2 per cent in August against 7.3 per cent expansion in the previous month on account of a decline in the production of refinery output, coal, fertiliser and steel.

The output of crude oil dipped 3.7 per cent and fertiliser, 5.3 per cent, according to data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Monday.

Refinery products grew 5.1 per cent in August against 12.3 per cent in July, steel production rose 3.9 per cent against 6.9 per cent and cement increased 14.3 per cent against 11.1 per cent.

On the other hand, coal output grew 2.4 per cent in August against 9.8 per cent in July, natural gas production rose 1.1 per cent against a 5.2 per cent contraction a month ago and electricity generation was up 5.4 per cent against 6.7 per cent in July.