China's power consumption, a key indicator of economic activity, increased mildly in the first quarter of this year, official data showed.

The power use rose 5 percent from a year earlier in the first three months, data from the National Development and Reform Commission showed.

Residents' power use jumped 11.8 percent year on year, while power used by the primary, secondary and tertiary industries increased 12.6 percent, 3 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.

China's economy grew 4.8 percent year on year in the first quarter despite challenges such as COVID-19 resurgences and a complicated external environment.