The growth of eight core sectors slipped to 3.6 per cent in June, weighed down by contraction in natural gas, fertiliser and steel output. The key infrastructure sectors had grown 5.6 per cent in the same month last year.

The growth in May too had moderated to 4 per cent, from 5.9 per cent in the same month last year.

According to official data released today, the cumulative expansion of these industries in April-June 2012 slowed to 3.6 per cent from 5.2 per cent in the same period last year.

The eight industries include crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel and have a weight of 37.9 per cent in the overall Index of Industrial Production.