Index
of Industrial Production (IIP) for the month of February
2006 increased 8.8 per cent from the same month of previous
year, according to quick estimates released by the Central
Statistical Organisation. Cumulative growth for the April
2005 to February 2006 period stands at 8 per cent from
the same period of previous year.
IIP
captures the 6 basic infrastructure sectors like mining,
electricity generation, cement, steel etc covered under
the infrastructure index besides manufacturing.
Manufacturing
growth for the month was at 9.5 per cent as compared to
February 2005. The strong growth was facilitated by higher
output of consumer goods at 12.4 per cent. Within consumer
goods, durable goods output increased by 18.2 per cent
while output of non-durable goods were higher by 10.6
per cent.
Among
various manufacturing sectors, output of food products
increased 16.2 per cent while textiles recorded a growth
of 15.5 per cent. Other manufacturing industries have
posted an output growth of 20.3 per cent.
Some economists believe that the strong growth in manufacturing,
especially consumer goods, would prompt the RBI to raise
short term interest rates. The RBI would announce its
decision on 18 April.
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