BUENOS AIRES -(Dow Jones)- Argentina's government reported a primary surplus of 848.6 million pesos ($192.8 million) in March, the Economy Ministry said Monday in a statement.

That puts the primary surplus down about 35% from ARS1.3 billion the same month a year ago.

The March numbers put government's first quarter primary surplus at ARS2.17 billion.

The government posted a fiscal deficit totaling ARS2.39 billion in March.

-By Taos Turner, Dow Jones Newswires; 5411-4103-6728; taos.turner@dowjones.com