Industrial growth zooms to 10.4 per cent in August

Adding to the festive mood, industrial growth catapulted to a 22-month high of 10.4 percent in August, clearly showing that stimulus measures have yielded results which may make up for the likely decline in farm output in months to come.

"This is a very good Diwali gift," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said.

Even though part of the rise is due to low base effect as the index of industrial production (IIP) grew by just 1.7 per cent a year ago, the impact of stimulus measures is also evident as there was all-round rise in factory production.

Manufacturing output grew by 10.2 per cent in August, mining by 12.9 per cent and electricity production by 10.6 per cent. Of 17 industry groups, 14 showed positive growth.

On the basis of use-based industrial break-up, consumer durables production grew by 22.3 per cent, basic goods by 10 per cent and intermediate goods by 14.3 per cent.

Industrial growth is expected to post high figures in the months to come due to low base effect of last year, which might make up for the likely loss in farm production.

"We are hoping that when the final figure of second quarter will be available, perhaps there will be some higher growth. If the higher growth projection is there, then in the third quarter, fourth quarter we can make up," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.