New Delhi, Feb 12 (Inditop.com) Helped by sustained domestic demand, India’s industrial production grew a better-than-expected 16.8 percent in December 2009 from a decline of 0.2 percent in the corresponding month of 2008, official figures released Friday said.

The index of industrial production (IIP), that measures country’s factory output, stood at 8.6 percent during the first nine months this fiscal as against 3.6 percent during the like period of 2008, data released by the Central Statistical Organisation showed.

The November industrial output was revised up to 11.8 percent from 11.7 percent.

Manufacturing, the major constituent of the index, was up 18.5 percent in December from a decline of 0.6 percent a year earlier, while mining and power generation grew 9.5 percent and 5.4 percent respectively in the period under review.

The consumer durables sector expanded 46 percent, the data showed.