Industrial growth up at 9.1 per cent in September

Industrial growth continued its upward march with factory production rising 9.1 per cent in September against 6 per cent in the same period last year.

This takes total growth to 6.5 per cent during the first half of this fiscal against five per cent a year ago, official data showed today.

All the three sectors--manufacturing, mining and electricity--showed growth in September over the year-ago period. Output in manufacturing was up by 9.3 per cent in September against 6.2 per cent in the same month last year and that of mining was up by 8.6 per cent compared to 5.8 per cent.

Electricity generation rose 7.9 per cent over 4.4 per cent in the comparable period..

Although September figures are slightly lower from August's over 10 per cent growth, analysts said industry is on the mend and it is showing a steady trend.

Consumer durables, which bore the brunt of the meltdown from October onwards, grew by 22.2 per cent in September even on high base of 14.7 per cent a year ago.