Industrial production inches up 1.4 per cent in April

Industrial production in the country grew 1.4 per cent in April 2009, against a 2.3 per cent decline in the previous month. The general index of industrial production (base 1993-94 = 100) stood at 270.1, up 1.4 per cent compared to the level in April 2008, quick estimates released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) showed.

The CSO has revised the annual growth of industrial production for April-March 2008-09 to 2.6 per cent on the back of the fall in IIP figure to -2.3 per cent for March 2009 - its worst performance since January 1993.

The indices for the mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors for April 2009 stood at 177.6, 287.0, and 233.6 respectively, with the corresponding growth rates of 3.8 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 7.1 per cent, respectively, as compared to April 2008.

CSO has revised growth in the three sectors during April-March 2008-09 to 2.6 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.8 per cent, respectively, which moved the overall growth in the general index to 2.6 per cent.

In terms of industries, as many as eleven out of the seventeen industry groups have shown positive growth during April 2009, as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The industry group 'wood and wood products; furniture and fixtures' showed the highest growth of 31.4 per cent, followed by 'wool, silk and man-made fibre textiles' (12.6 per cent) and 'non-metallic mineral products'' (10.2 per cent). On the other hand, the industry group 'food products' have shown a negative growth of 34.4 per cent followed by 'leather and leather and fur products' (12.4 per cent) and 'other manufacturing industries' (5.1 per cent).

As per use-based classification, the sectoral growth rates in April 2009 over April 2008 are: basic goods (4.6 per cent), capital goods  (-1.3 per cent) and intermediate goods (7.1 per cent). Consumer durables and consumer non-durables have recorded growth of 16.9 per cent and (-)10.4 per cent respectively, with the overall growth in consumer goods being (-)4.7 per cent.

Along with the quick estimates of IIP for April 2009, the indices for March 2009 have undergone the first revision and those for January 2009 have undergone the second (final) revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies.

Revised indices (first revision) in respect of February 2009 have already been released in May 2009 and these indices shall undergo final (second) revision in July 2009, CSO said.