Growth in eight core sectors rose to 4-month high of 3.2 per cent in September because of sharp pick-up in fertiliser production and electricity generation. The eight core industries — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had grown at 2.6 per cent in the same month of last year. Data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the fertiliser production increased by 18.1 per cent in September as compared to 12.59 per cent in August. Growth in electricity generation was at 10.8 per cent in September as compared to 3.9 per cent in the year-ago period. It also mentioned, the coal sector output expanded by a slower pace of 1.9 per cent in September. It also said the steel production has declined, minus 2.5 per cent as compared to minus 5.9 per cent in the previous month. The crude oil segment also declined 0.1 percent in September. The data further revealed cement production declined by 1.5 per cent in September as against a growth of 5.4 per cent in August.