The industrial output (the gross series) increased in the first quarter of the year by 4.1%, in contrast with the similar period last year, on the background of major increases in the manufacturing and utilities industry, according to the Romanian National Institute Statistics (INS).

In the first quarter, the industrial output has been 4.1% against the same period in 2009, due to the increases in the production and supply of electricity, heating, gas, hot water and air conditioning (+13.5%) and the manufacturing industry (+4.0). But the extractive industry dropped 12.4%.

As for the big industrial groups, there was an increase in the capital goods' industry (+11.9%), energetic industry (+7%) and the intermediating goods industry (+5.6%). The long-term use goods industry and the current use goods industry dropped by 9.4% and 8.2% respectively.

In March, the industrial output increased by 17.1% against the former month and by 6.6% against the same month last year.