Mumbai: Industrial output growth in the country declined to 6.2 per cent in October - the lowest in the current fiscal - against 9.8 per cent in the same month the year before, data released by Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) showed.

The lower growth rate of industrial production in October is attributed to a slowdown in manufacturing production.

The index if Industrial production, which measures the growth in output of manufacturing, power generation and mining, climbed 6.2 per cent during the month as against 9.8 per cent in the same month last fiscal.

Manufacturing grew at 6.0 per cent during the month against 10.9 per cent in the year-ago period, as growth in production of consumer goods, durables and non-durables almost came to a standstill.

Electricity generation grew at 9.7 per cent during October this year compared to 7.7 per cent in the year-ago period. Mining output increased by 4.0 per cent as against a negative 0.1 per cent growth in the same month last year.
Consumer goods production increased by a mere 0.5 per cent in October this year against 14.6 per cent during the year-ago period. Consumer durables production rose 2.4 per cent against 16.4 per cent while non-durables output declined by 0.4 per cent compared to a growth of 14 per cent during October 2005-06.

Production of capital goods also increased at a much lower rate of 8.2 per cent in October this fiscal against 24.3 per cent in the year-ago period> The basic goods sector registered a growth of 9.9 per cent from 7.0 per cent a year ago.

Overall industrial production during April-October this fiscal has risen 10.3 per cent against 8.6 per cent in the corresponding period last fiscal. Manufacturing grew at 11.2 per cent, power generation at 7.1 per cent and mining at 3.4 per cent as against 9.7 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively the previous year.