German industrial production rises in March

German industrial production edged up in March, data released here on Friday on part of the Ministry of Economics and Technology revealed . The data underlined in this regard the key role played by the nation's manufacturing sector in driving growth in Europe's biggest economy.     The Ministry said output rose 0.7% in March from an upwardly revised 1.7% in February.     Leading the March rise was a 6.2% jump in production in the building industry as mild spring weather helped to encourage outside construction work. "The manufacturing sector continues to be one of the driving forces of the economic recovery in Germany," the ministry said releasing the figures. The production data, however, came just one day after the ministry said that German factory orders plunged by a surprise 4 per cent in March. Analysts had expected a small rise. Year-on-year industrial orders rose 9.7%. The ministry also said releasing the order book data that the share of big-ticket items was "strongly below average" in March.