BERLIN (AP) -- The Economy Ministry says German industrial production rose an unexpectedly strong 4 percent in March over the previous month.
The news comes after the ministry already reported that German factory orders were up 5 percent in March over February -- another sign the country's economy, Europe's biggest, is on the rebound.
The ministry says manufacturing activity was up 3.4 percent month on month, while construction output jumped 26.7 percent despite the cold winter.
Analyst Alexander Koch says despite the fact that construction production is down 7.6 percent quarter-on-quarter "the March level in construction output clearly argues for a very solid positive contribution following in spring."
