New Delhi, March 28 -- The output of eight core infrastructure sectors, which account for two-fifths of India's industrial output, expanded by 2.9% in February-the slowest monthly pace in five months.

A year ago, in February 2024, core sector output had expanded at 7.1%.

Only three of the eight core industries reported a monthly rise in production, and only two sectors, cement and fertilizers, saw higher output in February compared to the year-ago period, showed the latest core sector data released by the Union commerce ministry on Friday.

To be sure, core sector output contributes 40.27% to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

In January, industrial output growth picked up, after slowing down in the previous month, due to a rise...