Bouncing back from the four-month lows, the index of industrial production (IIP) for October stood at 9.78 percent versus September’s figure of 3.6 percent (month-on-month).  This raises hopes that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth during the December quarter would exceed the previous quarter’s 7.4 per cent.

The higher figure came on expected lines due to pre-festive ramp-up and growth in mining, electricity as well as the favourable base. Furthermore, the government revised September IIP growth to 3.84 percent from 3.6 percent.

The growth rate for October this year looked even better because the country’s industrial production had contracted 2.7 per cent in the same month last year. During the first seven months of the current financial year, IIP rose 4.8 per cent, compared with 2.2 per cent in the corresponding period of last financial year.
 
In October, manufacturing rose 10.6 per cent, electricity nine per cent, and mining 4.7 per cent. The rise was mainly because of high 42.2 per cent growth seen in consumer durables, and 16.1 per cent expansion in capital goods.
 
In value terms, industry grew 6.80 per cent in the September quarter of the current financial year, according to GDP data for the three-month period, against 6.5 per cent in the June quarter. Industry accounts for almost 32 per cent of GDP these days.
 
India’s GDP for the September quarter grew at 7.4 per cent — a tad higher rate than the seven per cent seen in the previous quarter — with a boost in manufacturing and financial services. Manufacturing grew 9.3 per cent, compared with 7.2 per cent in the previous quarter, and 7.9 per cent in the same period last year.