NEW DELHI: Indian industrial production was unexpectedly weak in August, figures released on Friday showed, fueling doubts that Asia’s third-largest economy is headed for a swift recovery.

Output of factories, mines and utilities grew a marginal 0.4 percent in August from the same month a year earlier, far undershooting a consensus market forecast of 2.2 percent growth.

Manufacturing production, which represents three-quarters of the Index of Industrial Production, contracted by 1.4 percent in August.

Factory output was hit by a 11.3-percent decline in capital goods such as plant equipment — a harbinger of future investment intentions.

Fragile consumer sentiment was underlined by a 6.9-percent shrinkage in production of consumer goods such as fridges and stoves. The figures were a dampener for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took office in May following a landslide election win.

The right-wing leader has promised to revive an economy that grew by 4.7 percent in the last financial year to March, compared with near double-digit expansion a few years ago.

India’s economy posted two years of sub-five-percent growth, the longest slowdown in a quarter century, as the central bank kept interest rates steep to combat stubborn inflation. Growth rallied to 5.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter from April to June — the best quarterly performance in over two years.

But many economists said at the time the showing was probably the best quarterly performance that India would see during the current financial year.

Modi has been seeking to slash red tape, attract global firms to “make in India” and spur the manufacturing sector, boost the economy and create jobs for the army of young people who enter the workforce each year.

The government has also relaxed some foreign investment entry rules to draw capital.

The government’s moves have stoked confidence among Indian businesses, pushing it to close to a four-year high, a survey published by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry said earlier in the week.