(ANSA) - Rome, May 29 - The Italian economy has pulled out of recession with an expansion of 0.3% in the first three months of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, national statistical agency Istat reported Friday.
Between January and March, the economy rose by 0.1% on an annual basis - the first periodic growth in 13 quarters or almost four years, the agency said.
The gains mark an official end to Italy's recession.
The Italian government has said it expects gross domestic product to expand this year by 0.7%.
The report will be good news for the Italian government which has been pushing a series of reforms in the hopes to stimulating the economy.
Meanwhile, Istat also reported that the Italian economy has pulled itself out of deflation this month with a slight rise of 0.2% in the consumer price index, national statistics agency Istat said Friday in releasing preliminary estimates.
The annual measure of prices rose from the -0.1% reported in April, the fourth consecutive month of negative prices, said Istat.
Central banks have been raising concerns about deflation, generally seen as a dangerous sign of economic weakness.
Prices in the so-called consumer trolley of goods for the average Italian household rose this month by 0.8% as costs for such goods as food, along with household and personal care items rose compared with the same time last year, Istat said.