Eurozone growth accelerated to the fastest rate for six years in the three months to June, galloping past the US and highlighting clear improvements in the 12-country region’s economic performance.

Gross domestic product increased by 0.9 per cent in the second quarter, powered by surprisingly robust performances in Germany and France, according to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical unit. In the same period, US growth had slowed to 0.6 per cent. The UK saw 0.8 per cent.