Retail sales in Germany have seen an unexpected rise for February, raising hopes of a strong first quarter.

Europe’s largest economy saw a 1.3% rise in the month, beating expectations from analysts who had predicted a 0.5% fall.

If sales achieve a 1.6% rise in the quarter, as now looks likely, it will be the biggest increase since the fourth quarter of 2009 and points to growing consumer confidence in the country’s economy as a whole which has been lifted by an uplift in construction output over the winter.