<h1>Core Industries Index Rises 0.9% in December 2015; Notable Gains in Coal, Fertilizers, and Cement Production.</h1> The Index of Eight Core Industries, representing 38% of the Index of Industrial Production, rose to 175.7 in December 2015, marking a 0.9% increase from December 2014. Cumulative growth from April to December 2015-16 was 1.9%. Coal production increased by 6.1%, while crude oil and natural gas production declined by 4.1% and 6.1%, respectively. Refinery products and fertilizers saw increases of 2.1% and 13.1%. Steel production fell by 4.4%, whereas cement and electricity production increased by 3.2% and 2.7%, respectively. The data is provisional and subject to revision.