Fresh distress signal amid slowdown: Core industry output contracts in Sept

Amid a deepening economic slowdown, a fresh distress signal has emerged from core infrastructure industries. The output of eight key industries, which account for two-fifths of India's industrial production, contracted by 5.2% in September 2019, compared to a growth of 4.3% in September 2018. The coal industry has performed the worst, with output contracting by 20.5% in September. Indian economy's growth rate hit 5% in the June quarter, a five-year low.