Factory growth eases to 4% in Sep, slowest in three months

Last month's industrial output growth was higher than the 3.1% expansion seen a year ago

- Rhik Kundu

India's industrial production grew 4% annually in September, marking its slowest pace in three months chiefly as mining output contracted, provisional data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) on Tuesday showed.

Last month's industrial output, however, was higher than the 3.1% expansion recorded in September last year. In August, India's industrial production grew 4.1% annually, per MoSPI's revised data for the month (from 4%).

The latest September reading reflects a fragile and uneven rebound in industrial activity, amid soft domestic demand, global economic uncertainty, and sector-specific challenges.

Industrial performance has remained volatile this fiscal year, slowing during the first quarter (April-June), before picking up pace from July.