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'Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) kept rates at 3.75%, but the bank's head called for "strong vigilance" to counter price risks.

The expression by Jean-Claude Trichet is viewed as a way of implying that the benchmark rate will be lifted to 4% at the ECB's next meeting in June.

"Stronger-than-expected eurozone GDP growth should help provide the extra leverage to the ECB for higher rates in the next few months," said David Brown of Bear Stearns.

While annual growth was 3.1%, growth on a quarter-by-quarter basis hit 0.6%, beating the 0.5% forecast.

"Today's GDP [gross domestic product] report strengthens our belief that the eurozone economy is on a sustained growth trajectory," said Martin van Vliet, an economist at ING.

Less damage

A major factor behind the growth was strength in Germany - the region's largest economy.

Separate data from Germany's government showed that national growth for the quarter - while less than the previous period - beat expectations, hitting 0.5%.

Although German consumer spending was dented by higher value-added tax (VAT), which rose from 16% to 19% in January, this was countered by strong investment.

Economists greeted the German figures - which showed a 3.3% rise year-on-year - positively.

Bear Stearns' David Brown said: "With the impact of Germany's VAT hike causing less damage to German growth in the first quarter, it has helped solidify euro zone growth... over the last 12 months."

Sebastian Wanke of Dekabank said: "Although the basic story of private consumption and trade as brakes on growth... appears to be valid, it is happening at a higher level than expected."

Eurozone forecasts

Meanwhile, official data from France showed its economy grew by 0.5% in the quarter - the same as the previous three-month period.

Overall, the 27-member European Union saw growth reach 3.2% year-on-year, exceeding the 2.1% seen in the US for the same period.

Separately, the European Commission forecast strong growth over the next six months in the eurozone, before slowing in the final quarter.

German unemployment has fallen further as firms hired more workers amid improving economic prospects.
Government figures showed the jobless rate - unadjusted for seasonal factors - had fallen to 9.8% in March, from 10.1% in the previous month.

Adjusting for winter layoffs in industries such as construction, the jobless rate fell to 9.2%, its lowest level for nearly six years.

Europe's largest economy saw 869,000 fewer jobless people in the past year.

'Economic rebound'

German and foreign firms increased investment while construction orders surged following the country's mildest winter on record, pushing firms to expand their workforces.

Meanwhile, booming export growth and stronger consumer demand also encouraged companies to continue hiring.

Analysts saw the figures as encouraging for the country's future prospects.

"The decline in joblessness, the seventh drop in a row, adds to evidence that Germany's economic rebound will continue this year," said market research group GfK.

But analysts warned that the robust German economy needs to distance itself from feared US economic troubles.

"We basically have very stable economic growth. Now it depends on whether Germany can distance itself from a weak US economy," said DZ bank Glenn Marci.

German unemployment has fallen further as firms hired more workers amid improving economic prospects.

Government figures showed the jobless rate - unadjusted for seasonal factors - had fallen to 9.8% in March, from 10.1% in the previous month.

Adjusting for winter layoffs in industries such as construction, the jobless rate fell to 9.2%, its lowest level for nearly six years.

Europe's largest economy saw 869,000 fewer jobless people in the past year.

'Economic rebound'

German and foreign firms increased investment while construction orders surged following the country's mildest winter on record, pushing firms to expand their workforces.

Meanwhile, booming export growth and stronger consumer demand also encouraged companies to continue hiring.

Analysts saw the figures as encouraging for the country's future prospects.

"The decline in joblessness, the seventh drop in a row, adds to evidence that Germany's economic rebound will continue this year," said market research group GfK.

But analysts warned that the robust German economy needs to distance itself from feared US economic troubles.

"We basically have very stable economic growth. Now it depends on whether Germany can distance itself from a weak US economy," said DZ bank Glenn Marci.