Poor performance in almost all core areas of the infrastructure sector, including petroleum refinery products and power, has led to a steep fall in six core infrastructure industries to 3.5 per cent in May, against 7.8 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

During April-May 2008-09, the growth rate of these core industries declined to 3.5 per cent against 6.9 per cent during the same period last fiscal.

According to official data released on Wednesday, the petroleum refinery products registered a poor growth of 0.1 per cent in May, compared to 14.9 per cent last year.

Growth in electricity also declined to 2.0 per cent as against 9.3 per cent and cement sector registered a growth of 3.8 per cent compared to 9.9 per cent.

The finished steel product too posed a poor growth performance with 5.2 per cent in May 2008. The sector had grown at a rate of 8.4 per cent during the corresponding period in 2007.

However, crude oil sector witnessed a positive growth of 3.2 per cent in May as against 1.6 per cent and coal registered a growth of 8.3 per cent against 0.5 per cent in May 2007.