Growth in the country's eight core sectors more than doubled, to a 7-month high of 5.1 per cent in September this year, on account of double-digit growth in the coal, cement and petroleum refinery industries. Growth in the eight infrastructure industries — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity — had stood at 2.5 per cent in September last year.

Coal production surged 21.4 per cent in September, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry. Growth in petroleum refinery output improved to 11.4 per cent, and cement output rose 13.4 per cent.

Cumulative growth in the first half of the fiscal was 3.2 per cent, against 5 per cent in the same period last year.