Germany gives boost to eurozone with surprise growth spurt

The country's economy grew by 0.7%

Angela Merkel's Germany lived up to its name as Europe's growth engine, as its economy advanced 0.7 per cent last quarter (Getty Images)

Germany gave a surprise boost to the eurozone in the final three months of last year, official figures have revealed.

The German motor of the single currency bloc - which flirted with recession last year - advanced 0.7 per cent in the final quarter of 2014.

That lifted growth across the wider eurozone by 0.3 per cent, ahead of the 0.2 per cent which was seen in the prior quarter.

European Central Bank president Mario Draghi will hope for a further surge this year after unveiling €1.1 trillion (£817 million) money-printing plans.

But troubled Greece’s economy shrank 0.2 per cent as it gropes towards a debt compromise deal with its creditors before its bailout expires at the end of the months.

Shares in Athens jumped 6 per cent on renewed hopes of an agreement.