AprilJune GDP growth 6.7 yy vs 6.9 in Reuters forecast
Manufacturing grows 7 yy vs 8.9 rise in JanMarch
Economists see economic growth remaining robust

NEW DELHI, Aug 30 Reuters India39;s economic growth slowed to 6.7 yearonyear in the AprilJune quarter as a decline in government spending during national elections weighed, data showed on Friday, but it remained the world39;s fastestgrowing major economy.

The rise in gross domestic product was less than a 6.9 expansion forecast by a Reuters poll, and compared to 7.8 growth in the previous quarter.

Still, it was faster than 4.7 growth in China, Asia39;s biggest economy, in AprilJune, and India39;s slowdown is expected to be temporary as economists forecast that easing inflation and a pickup in government spending will shore up growth in the coming months.

Political uncertainty also weighed on investment and consumption during the AprilJune quarter, the official data showed.

The Gross Value Added GVA, seen by economists as a more stable measure of growth, increased by 6.8 in AprilJune from a year earlier, compared to 6.3 in the previous quarter.

Upasna Bhardwaj, chief economist at Mumbaibased Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the GDP numbers were softer than expectations but the GVA remained firm with nonfarm growth holding up.

We retain our GDP growth expectations of 6.9 in 202425, aided largely by rural demand and government spending while watching closely the likely fatigue in urban demand, private capex and pace of…