NEW DELHI: India said its industrial production grew by five percent in February, its highest rate in nine months, indicating a boost in Asia’s third-largest economy.

The year-on-year jump in production by Indian factories, mines and utilities was higher than the revised 2.8-percent growth recorded in January and beat economists’ expectations of 2.5-3 percent. Analysts welcomed the fastest pace of growth since November last year, but warned the recovery remained fragile.

“The fact is the economy is still performing below potential and all indicators are suggesting that we are just at the beginning of a gradual recovery,” said Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist at Indian credit rating agency Crisil.