The German economy returned to growth in the first three months of the year with a better-than-expected 0.5% rise in GDP, official figures have shown.

德国官方数据显示，2012年第一季度GDP增长超出预期0.5%。

In the final quarter of last year, the German economy contracted by 0.2%, its first dip since 2009.

Meanwhile, the French economy recorded zero growth in the first quarter, after growth of 0.1% at the end of 2011.

Figures released later on Tuesday are expected to show that the eurozone as a whole has returned to recession.

'Weak consumption'

Compared with the same a quarter a year earlier, the German economy grew by 1.7%.

The German statistics agency Destatis said growth in the first quarter was due to a rise in exports and higher domestic consumption.

The return to growth means Germany has avoided a so-called double-dip recession, confounding the predictions of a number of commentators¹.

In contrast, the French growth figures failed to outperform analysts²' expectations, and the growth figure for the final quarter of last year was revised down to 0.1% from 0.2%.

"There was no good surprise," said Philippe Waechter at Natixis Asset Management. "There was weak consumption [and] no investment."