India's industrial output picks up slightly

India's industrial production data have shown an unexpected uptick as elections loom in the world's most populous democracy. According to dpa, the numbers released Wednesday had industrial output inching up 0.1 percent in February from the same month last year. The result beat analysts' predictions of a contraction. Consumer inflation also eased in February but was still high at 8.1 percent. The trends were welcome news for Asia's third-largest economy. India's lowest economic growth rates in a decade have coincided with soaring prices over the past year. They have made it difficult for the central bank to try to stimulate growth by cutting interest rates.