Skip to main content

Industry, services sector boost GDP growth to 7.9%

Belying predictions, the Indian economy grew by a significant 7.9 per cent in the second quarter of this fiscal, up from 6.1 per cent in the previous quarter, essentially due to a good showing by the industry and the services sector.

The growth compares favourably with 7.7 per cent recorded in the July-September quarter in the previous year.

Consequently, the economy rose 7 per cent in the first half ending September 30 of the current fiscal on the back of stimulus packages and revival of domestic demand, giving hopes that final figures for the year could be much higher.

The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the Reserve Bank and the Planning Commission had predicted a growth of about 6-7 per cent, while global agencies and analysts forecast it to be even lower.

Analysts were expecting a growth rate of 6.1-6.6 per cent in the second quarter.

The economic growth of close to eight per cent in the second quarter is also remarkable in the context of just 0.9 per cent expansion in farm production due to a weak monsoon and continued contraction in exports due to slackening demand overseas.

However, the manufacturing sector grew by 9.2 per cent in the July-September period compared with 5.1 per cent in the corresponding period of last fiscal and mining and quarrying by 9.5 per cent versus 3.7 per cent recorded in FY09.

Community, social and personal services sector expanded by double digit at 12.7 per cent against nine per cent.

Despite being affected by international slowdown, trade, hotels, transport and communication sector grew by 8.5 per cent, which is lower than 12.1 per cent a year ago.

Financing, insurance, real estate, and business services rose 7.7 per cent against 6.4 per cent.

Electricity, gas and water supply was up 7.4 per cent compared with 3.8 per cent.

Construction rose 6.5 per cent down over 9.6 per cent a year ago.

It was after September, that growth declined to 5.8 per cent in the subsequent two quarters last year. So, if the trend continues, the growth rate is expected to be much higher in the second half of this fiscal. The size of the domestic economy stood at Rs 17.9 lakh crore in the first half of fiscal 2010.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jyoti Structures bags Rs 253 cr worth orders

Jyoti Structures on Tuesday said it has bagged two orders worth Rs 253 crore from Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd and Eskom Enterprises (Pty) Ltd for construction of transmission lines. The company has bagged Rs 160-crore order from Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd for construction of transmission lines and sub-stations. Besides, the company's joint venture company Jyoti Structures Africa (Pty) Ltd has bagged a contract for Eskom Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, the electricity utility of South Africa for construction of transmission line. The scope of the order from Uganda Electricity Transmission Company includes supply and erection of Bujagali Interconnection Project, the manufacturer of transmission line towers informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. The contract valued at around $39.64 million (Rs 160 crore) is to be executed in 24 months, the company said, adding the company would construct 220 kV and 132 kV transmission lines and substations.

Company News

ITI Ltd seeks Rs2,000 crore aid from government (Live mint.com 26th Dec 2007) The funds are being sought to wipe out accumulated losses of Rs2,225 crore and to obtain working capital for telecom equipment manufacturing. According to a company official who did not wish to be named, a committee has been set up by the Centre to finalize the package. More

Inflation hits 42-week high of 7.57%

Inflation rose to a 42-week high of 7.57 per cent in the 12 months to April 19, higher than the previous week’s annual rise of 7.33 per cent, largely on account of an increase in food, metal products and industrial fuel prices, official data showed. Analysts said that the inflation of 7.57 per cent was “slightly higher” than their expectations and this could be due to price increase in tea and certain items in the steel group. India’s wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation now stood highest since November 13, 2004, when it was 7.68 per cent. Economists expressed confidence that the recent fiscal and monetary measures would yield results in the coming weeks. They, however, noted that inflation was unlikely to return to the comfort zone of the Reserve Bank of India any time this fiscal. “There could be some easing of food inflation given the good wheat production and likelihood of good monsoon. I see some temporary relief on food side. But commodities are tough to predict. The infla...