IInfrastructure output growth for the first month of the new financial year has come in at a healthy 6.7 per cent as compared to 6 per cent for the same month of previous year. The growth rate for April is higher than the average monthly rates reported for the previous 3 months, but lower than 8.7 per cent reported for March 2006.

The expansion in the infrastructure sector index for April 2006 was aided by very good growth rates in petroleum refining and cement manufacturing, both of which reported double digit growth rates.

Crude oil output declined by 1.9 per cent during the month while coal output growth declined to 3.4 per cent from 8.2 per cent for the same month of previous year.