Devil Soul
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 22,931
- Reaction score
- 45
- Country
- Location
India's Industrial Output Declines 5.1%
NEW DELHI, Dec 12, 2011 (AFP) -India's industrial output shrank 5.1 percent year-on-year in October, well below expectations and the first drop for more than two years, data showed Monday.
The October figure marked a sharp slump from the 1.9 percent expansion posted in September, reflecting the impact on the economy of a series of interest rate rises aimed at curbing inflation.
Manufacturing output, which accounts for around 75 percent of the industrial index, declined 6.0 percent year-on-year.
The sluggish output figures are likely to further undercut hopes that emerging markets such as India can power global growth as Europe and the United States struggle.
The weak figures buttressed expectations that India's hawkish central bank would hold off hiking interest rates to combat inflation even though it remains stubbornly high at nearly 10 percent.
A quarter-point rise by the Reserve Bank of India in October was the 13th rate hike since March last year.
The rupee has meanwhile hit record lows against the US dollar, as overseas investors abandon emerging markets and seek safe havens against global shocks.
In its mid-year analysis of the economy last week, the finance ministry forecast the economy to expand 7.5 percent in 2011-12, after growth slumped to a two-year low of 6.9 percent in the second financial quarter.
"The sharply deteriorating global economic environment has had a dampening effect on India," the ministry said.
The economy grew 8.5 percent in the previous financial year.
Some private economists tip expansion this year to be as low as 6.5 percent, with the country shifting to a new, slower growth trajectory.
NEW DELHI, Dec 12, 2011 (AFP) -India's industrial output shrank 5.1 percent year-on-year in October, well below expectations and the first drop for more than two years, data showed Monday.
The October figure marked a sharp slump from the 1.9 percent expansion posted in September, reflecting the impact on the economy of a series of interest rate rises aimed at curbing inflation.
Manufacturing output, which accounts for around 75 percent of the industrial index, declined 6.0 percent year-on-year.
The sluggish output figures are likely to further undercut hopes that emerging markets such as India can power global growth as Europe and the United States struggle.
The weak figures buttressed expectations that India's hawkish central bank would hold off hiking interest rates to combat inflation even though it remains stubbornly high at nearly 10 percent.
A quarter-point rise by the Reserve Bank of India in October was the 13th rate hike since March last year.
The rupee has meanwhile hit record lows against the US dollar, as overseas investors abandon emerging markets and seek safe havens against global shocks.
In its mid-year analysis of the economy last week, the finance ministry forecast the economy to expand 7.5 percent in 2011-12, after growth slumped to a two-year low of 6.9 percent in the second financial quarter.
"The sharply deteriorating global economic environment has had a dampening effect on India," the ministry said.
The economy grew 8.5 percent in the previous financial year.
Some private economists tip expansion this year to be as low as 6.5 percent, with the country shifting to a new, slower growth trajectory.