<h1>Core Industries Index Rises 4.1% in March 2018; Significant Boost in Coal, Steel, Cement Production Noted.</h1> The Index of Eight Core Industries, which constitutes 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production, rose to 138.0 in March 2018, marking a 4.1% increase from March 2017. Yearly growth from April 2017 to March 2018 was 4.2%. Coal production increased by 9.1%, while crude oil production declined by 1.6%. Natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity saw increases of 1.3%, 1.0%, 3.2%, 4.7%, 13.0%, and 4.5% respectively. The cumulative growth rates for these sectors varied, with notable increases in steel and cement production. Data for early 2018 are provisional.