France's gross domestic product grew 0.3 percent in the second quarter, the first increase after four consecutive quarters of decline, the government said Friday.
The growth was due to a favorable trade balance during the period, the government statistics bureau INSEE said in a report.
Exports rose 0.7 percent, compared with the 7.4-percent decline in the first quarter. Imports, meanwhile, dropped 2.1 percent, less than the first quarter's 5.9 percent.
In addition, the INSEE report revised up the GDP decline for the first quarter to 1.4 percent from the previously announced 1.3 percent.
Financial Minister Christine Lagarde said "positive" prospects can be seen for the upcoming quarter./.