Germany's central bank expects the country's economy to improve "markedly" in the second quarter - a development that could boost the wider eurozone as it struggles to get out of recession.
The Bundesbank said today that Europe's largest economy should expand more robustly after a weak first three months of the year.
Germany grew only 0.1% in the first quarter as cold weather delayed the construction season.
In its monthly report, the Bundesbank said that construction activity will catch up.
It also cited "reason to hope" that companies will start investing in machinery and equipment to meet increased demand for goods - a key stage in any recovery.
Industrial orders unexpectedly rose in March by 2.2%, instead of declining as analysts had expected.
So far, the report said, corporations continue to hold back on new investment, primarily because of weak demand for products - even though conditions for financing new investment are "exceptionally favourable."
The European Central Bank cut its key interest rate to a record low of 0.5% on May 2 and bank lending rates remain low.
The Bundesbank warned, however, that troubles with too much government debt in other euro countries - Germany's major trading partners - means "risks remain high."
While interest rates are low in Germany, they are higher in countries such as Spain and Italy, where banks are charging customers more for loans due to concerns about the economy and government finances.
Stronger German growth could help the euro zone climb out of its recession. The economy of the 17-country currency union shrank 0.2% in the first three months of the year. Growth is suffering as governments cut spending and raise taxes to try to reduce debt. The ECB expects a gradual recovery in the second half of the year.
