The German economy, Europe's biggest, expanded by a surprisingly strong 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2014, bringing full-year growth to 1.6%, official data showed today.
"The German economy regained momentum at the end of last year," the federal statistics office Destatis said in a statement.
"After the robust start in the first quarter and subsequent weakness in the second and third quarters, the economy stabilised again in the final quarter," it stated.
In a preliminary estimate last month, Destatis had calculated that gross domestic product expanded by 1.5% in the whole of 2014 and that fourth-quarter growth was "around a quarter of a percentage point."
The main growth driver was consumer spending, the statisticians explained.
Investment was also positive, particularly in equipment and construction. Both imports and exports also rose strongly, Destatis added.
Meanwhile, the German DAX blue-chip stock index hit 11,000 points for the first time this morning, driven by positive economic data and news that Greece appears closer to a possible overhaul of its bailout.
The DAX index hit an intraday high of 11,013.85 points in mid-morning trade on the Frankfurt stock exchange, an increase of 0.86% from yesterday's close. It later slipped back under 11,000.
