Germany, France in shock return to economic growth

BERLIN/PARIS: Germany and France achieved a shock return to economic growth in the second quarter of the year, ending their recessions earlier than many policymakers and economists expected, but failed to drag the euro zone with them.

German gross domestic product rose by 0.3 percent in the second quarter, bringing an end to the country's deepest recession since World War II.

French GDP also grew by 0.3 percent in the second quarter. The consensus in a Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 0.3 percent quarterly contraction in both countries.