The output of eight core industries increased 4.2 per cent in April, boosted by higher electricity, fertiliser and cement production.

The coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity sectors had expanded 3.7 per cent in the same month last year. Growth in these industries decelerated to 2.7 per cent in 2013-14.

The eight industries have a combined weight of about 38 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production.

Electricity production increased 11.2 per cent in April, fertilisers 11.1 per cent, cement 6.7 per cent and coal 3.3 per cent, all at a faster pace than a year earlier.

Steel production increased 3.1 per cent compared with 10.1 per cent in the same month last year.

The crude oil, natural gas and petroleum refinery product sectors contracted 0.1 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively, in April.