France, Germany Flash GDP Estimates Better Than Expected; Trade, Jobs, Production And Investments Aid Growth

French gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of 2013 surprised on the upside and so did GDP numbers from Germany for the same period, official data showed Friday.

In France, quarterly GDP grew by 0.3 percent in Q4 compared to an expected growth of 0.2 percent. In Germany, quarterly GDP growth was recorded at 0.4 percent compared to a forecast of 0.3 percent while annual GDP growth came in on expected lines at 1.3 percent.

Gross fixed capital formation, or GFCF, in France grew after seven consecutive quarters of decline, a statement from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, or Insee, noted. GFCF increased in the fourth quarter by 0.6 percent.

GDP growth in Germany for the quarter was attributed to an increase in foreign trade and the number of jobs created, which was up by 0.6 percent over last year, according to an official release from the Federal Statistical Office.