Core Sector Growth Hits 4-Month High at 3.7% in December

• India's eight core infrastructure industries saw a 3.7% output increase in December, marking a four-month high.
• Coal, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity production grew, with cement leading at 13.5%.
• Crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products experienced declines, attributed to maturing fields.
• Overall core sector growth for April-December slowed to 2.6% compared to 4.5% last year.
• Government efforts focus on clean energy and capital expenditure to boost economic growth and reduce import dependence.

Why It Matters: Core sector growth reached a four-month peak in December, driven by cement and electricity, despite oil and gas declines.