New Delhi, Jan. 18 -- India's factory output growth crashed to its slowest in 17 months at 0.5% in November, the outcome of an unfavourable base effect as well as contraction in manufacturing. The previous low was in June 2017, when IIP growth fell to -0.2%. The index of industrial production (IIP), announced by the Central Statistics Office on 11 January is the last set of key economic data to be released before the interim budget is presented on 1 February. Manufacturing production shrank 0.4%, while electricity and mining output grew 5.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Items that recorded the steepest contraction included television sets; bodies of trucks and trailers; and raw materials for drugs. After the initial turbulence following the intr...