The growth rate of eight core sector industries slowed to three-month low of 2.4 per cent in December last year as production of crude oil, natural gas, fertiliser and steel declined. The growth was 6.7 per cent in November. The core sector contributes 38 per cent to the overall industrial production, a parameter that RBI takes into account while framing its monetary policy. During April-December, the eight sectors grew by 4.4 percent as against 4.1 per cent in the same period last year.