Exports, spending pull Euro zone out of recession in Q2

Stronger-than-expected growth from Germany to Portugal helped the Euro zone's economy expand 0.3% in the April-June period

A rebound in exports and a return to spending by households and governments pulled the Euro zone out of recession in the second quarter of this year, data showed on Wednesday, in the first signs of recovery after the bloc's longest slump.

Stronger-than-expected growth from Germany to Portugal helped the Euro zone's economy expand 0.3 per cent in the April-to-June period, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat said in its first breakdown of the data.

Exports to the rest of the world rose sharply in the quarter after six months of falling sales, while government spending made its first positive contribution to the economy since late 2009 when Greece plunged the Euro zone into its debt crisis.