Greece's economy expanded by 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2015, the national statistics agency estimated Thursday, with the country escaping recession in the first quarter as GDP remained flat.

According to the new figures, the Greek economy posted zero growth in the first quarter of the year after having contracted 0.2 percent in the last quarter of 2014 -- thus averting two periods of decline constituting recession. The figures showed second-quarter growth up 1.4 percent compared to the same period the previous year.