TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The March index of activity in the tertiary industries rose 0.8 pct month-on-month, compared with a rise of 2.0 pct the previous month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. The ministry provide the following data for March, compared with the previous month:
Tertiary index - up 0.8 pct mth-on-mth vs up 2.0 pct
- up 2.3 pct yr-on-yr vs up 0.8 pct
All-industries - up 0.4 pct mth-on-mth vs up 1.4 pct
- up 0.8 pct yr-on-yr vs flat

The tertiary industries consist of transport, telecoms, finance/insurance, wholesale/retail, utility, real estate and service sectors, while the all-industry index also includes construction, agricultural and fisheries.
Earlier, an AFX survey of economists forecast the March tertiary index at between a 1.0 pct rise and a 1.7 pct fall month-on-month, with consensus of a fall of 0.8 pct.