On the other hand, an increase in cement and coal production pushed core sector growth to 4.7 per cent in April, compared to 2.6 per cent in the same month last year while it was at 4.4 per cent in March this year. The core sector comprises eight key industries and contributes over 40 per cent to overall industrial production. According to data released by Commerce and Industry Ministry, while cement production increased by 16.6 per cent in April this year over April last, coal production went up by 16 per cent during the same period. Higher cement outgo indicates construction sector is accelerating and this is good news for the entire economy, especially from employment point of view as construction sector has very high potential to create direct and indirect job generation. Increase in coal production has come at a time when there is higher demand from the power sector There is also an indication that if production continues at the same rate during the coming months, the electricity situation will improve. Meanwhile, electricity generation increased by 2.2 per cent in April. Its cumulative index increased by 5.3 per cent during April-March, 2017-18 over the corresponding period of previous year. Fertilizers production went up by 4.6 per cent in April while steel production increased by 3.5 per cent. Among petroleum products, natural gas and refinery production went up by 7.4 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively.
