The national institute for statistics and information, or INEI, said Tuesday that the economy expanded 6.02 percent in the first quarter this year and 6.31 percent between April 2011 and March 2012.

The INEI said that construction rose 14.70% in March, while retail sector activity increased 7.22%. Mining and hydrocarbons production gained 6%.

Electricity and water production gained 5.85%, while the agriculture sector increased 1.62% in March.

The only sectors that declined in the month were fishing and manufacturing activity, which were down 15.07% and 3.15%, respectively.

Peru's GDP expanded by 6.9% in 2011, after expanding by 8.8% in 2010.

(END) JPC/JPC/MOC/EEP