Official figures show that German industrial orders rose sharply in November, in a further sign that Europe's top economy is pulling out of its deepest slump since World War II.
Orders grew by 2.8% on the month, the economy ministry said, revising higher a preliminary estimate of a gain of 0.2%.
Earlier this week, the German government also revised higher its forecast for economic growth this year to 1.5%, from a previous estimate of 1.2%.
In 2009, output slumped by 5% as Germany, one of the world's top exporters, suffered its worst recession in six decades.
Industrial orders across the euro zone also rose by 1.6% in November in a sharp rebound from the previous month's 1.9% fall, EU figures released earlier today showed.
