Mexico's state-run energy giant Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported Thursday a 2-percent increase in the volume of oil consumption in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a year earlier. Oil consumption averaged 793,000 barrels a day during the quarter. In March, daily consumption hit 831,000 barrels. Earnings from oil sales in the first quarter of 2010 increased 30 percent compared to 2009, reaching 69 billion pesos (5.75 billion U.S. dollars). According to Pemex, the figures are consistent with economic reports saying that Mexico is slowly recovering from the severe economic downturn it experienced in 2009. Mexico's economy grew 3.4 percent in February compared with a year earlier, according to preliminary government statistics published Tuesday. 