New Delhi: Growth in eight core industries slowed to three-month low of 2.4 percent in December last year, adding to clamour for a rate cut by RBI tomorrow.
Negative growth in crude oil, natural gas, fertiliser and steel has led to the dip in the overall growth rate of core industries.
The eight core sector industries -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity -- had expanded by 4 percent in December, 2013.
The growth was 6.7 percent in November, 2014.
The core sector contributes 38 percent to the overall industrial production, a parameter that RBI takes into account while framing its monetary policy.
As per HSBC Purchasing Managers Index, manufacturing growth also slipped to a three-month low in January on slower pace of order flows from domestic and global markets, raising hopes of a rate cut by the RBI in its policy review.
Bankers believe inflation is under control and macroeconomic indicators are also conducive for a further rate cut of 0.25 percent, even as some expect the central bank to maintain a status quo.
"Notwithstanding the moderation in core sector growth in December and the fiscal cushion created through the stake sale in Coal India Ltd, we expect the RBI to pause in the February policy review and resume rate cuts only after the presentation of the Union Budget at the end of this month," ICRA said in a statement.
Production of crude oil declined by 1.4 percent, natural gas by 3.5 percent, fertiliser by 1.6 percent and of steel by 2.4 percent in the month under review.
Coal production grew by 7.5 percent, refinery products by 6.1 percent and cement by 3.8 percent.
Growth in electricity generation declined to 3.7 percent from 7.6 percent.
During April-December, the eight sectors grew by 4.4 percent as against 4.1 percent in the same period last year.
"We should look at the core sector data over a longer time period rather than monthly estimated data as it may not be representative.... Industry is already showing imminent signs of pick-up. With a continued policy push by the government in steel intensive areas like infrastructure, the domestic steel demand is expected to increase," said SAIL Chairman C S Verma.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI, which last month announced a surprise rate cut of 25 basis points after maintaining a hawkish monetary stance for 20 months, is scheduled to undertake its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review, 2014-15 on Tuesday.
