The economic sentiment index increased to 85.6 in March from 77.7 in February.

Among components, the industrial confidence index rose to -3.7 in March from -5.3 in the prior month. The morale index for the construction sector fell to -48 and that for retail trade increased to 3. The services confidence indicator rose to -9 in March from -31.7 in the previous month.

The consumer confidence index improved to -36.5 from -38.4 in the preceding month.