The latest IIP data released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) says that the manufacturing sector has grown by 6.7 per cent in February 2004 as against 7.1 per cent in February 2003, with the corresponding figures amounting to 9.6 per cent (7.2 per cent) for mining and 12.1 per cent (0.6 per cent) for electricity.

The cumulative growth for the industry as a whole during April 2003-February 2004 worked out to 6.7 per cent, compared with 5.8 per cent for the corresponding 11-month period of the previous fiscal. The growth rates for manufacturing, mining and electricity for this period were uniformly higher at 7.2 per cent (6 per cent), 5.2 per cent (5.6 per cent) and 4.5 per cent (3.5 per cent), respectively.

The production of capital goods, which is an indicator of investment activity taking place in the economy went up by 24.7 per cent in February 2004 (5.1 per cent in February 2003). For April 2003-January 2004, the growth rate of capital goods amounted to 11.9 per cent (10.5 per cent).