The country’s industrial output rose to a five-month high of 7.1 per cent in November on the back of better showing by the manufacturing sector, according to official data released on Thursday.

The growth in the index of industrial production (IIP) for November was in sharp contrast to October — a 4.2 per cent contraction. The previous high was 12.6 per cent in June.

According to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the manufacturing sector’s output grew 6.1 per cent in November.

“Despite the encouraging IIP numbers, the recovery in factory output has a long way to go. At the used-based classification, even now the output of intermediate goods and consumer durables is less than the pre-Covid (February 2020) output levels.

“The ongoing industrial recovery will continue to need more policy support,” Sunil Kumar Sinha, principal economist, India Ratings and Research, said.

In use-based classification, the capital goods segment recorded 20.7 per cent growth in November.