BERLIN (AP) — Industrial orders in Germany rebounded strongly in October, growing by 3.9 percent compared with the previous month, sending an unexpectedly hopeful signal about the strength of Europe’s biggest economy.

The recovery in October was the strongest since January 2011 and followed a 2.4 percent decline the previous month, the economy ministry said Thursday. The September figure was revised up significantly from the initial reading of a 3.3 percent drop.