India logs surprise 11.8pc industrial growth

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NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (AFP): India's industrial output grew unexpectedly strongly in October as the festival season boosted consumer demand, data showed yesterday, but economists said the surge would be short-lived.
Output by factories, power utilities and other sectors accelerated by 11.8 per cent, up sharply from 4.5 per cent growth in the same month a year ago and a revised 6.8 per cent in September, the Central Statistical Organisation said.
The figure-the fastest growth in seven months-easily beat the consensus market forecast of 10 per cent growth. Manufacturing led the way, growing by 13.3 per cent.
"The bottom line is that the October industrial production jump is exaggerated owing to last year's weak base" and the festival season, warned Rajeev Malik, economist at JP Morgan.