Output of the country's eight core industries rose 4.2 per cent in April, boosted by higher electricity, fertiliser and cement production. According to official data released today, the coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity sectors had expanded 3.7 per cent in April last year.Electricity production increased 11.2 per cent in April, fertiliser output rose 11.1 per cent, cement increased 6.7 per cent, and coal rose 3.3 per cent, all at a faster pace than a year earlier. Steel production expanded 3.1 per cent, compared with 10.1 per cent growth in April last year. But the crude oil sector contracted 0.1 percent, natural gas output fell 7.7 percent and petroleum refinery output declined 2.2 per cent in April.