Manufacturing output declined 0.2%, while mining and quarrying output increased 6.9%.

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning output grew 4.2%. Industrial new orders increased 3.4%.

On a monthly basis, industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 2.6% in March.

In a separate statement, the Prague-based agency said that construction output rose a working-day adjusted 8.2% annually in March.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the construction output declined 3.7% from the prior month in March.