GDP growth at 5-quarter high of 7.8% in April-June

NEW DELHI: The country's economic growth surged to a five-quarter high in April-June of the current fiscal year, led by faster than expected expansion in the manufacturing and services sectors and a robust farm sector.Data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Friday showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8% in the June quarter, higher than the 7.4% in the previous three-month period, and 6.5% growth in the first quarter of last year. The June quarter number is also above Reserve Bank of India's 6.5% estimate for the first quarter and higher than most estimates.

The data also showed that gross value added, a measure of economic activity, grew by 7.6% during the April-June quarter. Private consumption expenditure increased 7% during the period.The robust numbers will be cheered all the more given the timing, coming amid tariff tension with the US, and marking a refutation of Donald Trump's "dead economy" jibe at India.