Government data shows German industrial orders surged by 4.3 percent on the month in January as demand increased for big-ticket goods.

The Economy Ministry said Friday that the big increase follows a 1.6 percent month-on-month decline in orders in December. That figure has been revised from an initial estimate of a 2.3 percent decline.

The ministry says January's rise was powered by a 7.1 percent increase in orders from within Germany. Orders from abroad were up by only 1.9 percent.

Orders for so-called investment goods such as machinery were up 3.7 percent in January.

Germany's economy — Europe's biggest — returned to modest growth last year after a sharp recession but stagnated in the fourth quarter.