The Brazilian central bank says its index of economic activity rose by 1.04 percent last year, having fallen in each of the preceding three years, Reuters reports.

The news agency says that in December the index was 1.41 percent higher than the month before.

The report says economic activity grew last year as interest rates dropped to their lowest ever, inflation slowed and unemployment fell, while investment increased gradually.

Economists expect the rate of growth in the Brazilian economy this year to be the fastest since 2013, Reuters says.