Core sector growth eases a tad in Jan

NEW DELHI: Growth in the nation’s essential core sector held regular in Jan with growth in cement and refinery merchandise output however eased barely from December.
Data launched by the commerce and trade ministry on Friday-showed the eight core sector spanning coal, crude oil, pure fuel, refinery merchandise, fertilisers, metal, cement and electrical energy rose 4.6% in Jan, marginally decrease than the 4.8% in Dec however a tad greater than the 4.2% recorded in Jan final 12 months.
Cement sector soared to a 15-month excessive of 14.5% in the course of the month. But two sectors — crude oil and pure fuel — contracted and consultants see IIP growth to stay sluggish in January.
In one other improvement, Centre’s fiscal deficit touched 74.5% of the annual goal on the finish of Jan 2025, in line with the information launched by Controller General of Accounts (CGA). The deficit was 63.6% of Revised Estimates (RE) of 2023-24 in the year-ago interval.