The economic outlook for the Group of Seven industrial nations has improved but also points to slowing growth in the euro area, according to an OECD report.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said its composite leading indicator for the G7 area rose to 105.6 in September from a revised 105.2 in August. Italy was the only one of the seven countries to post a decline.
The figure for the 30-nation OECD area also improved, to 109.6 in September from a revised 109.1 the previous month.
A less volatile measure, the six-month rate of change, rose by 2.5 per cent in September for the OECD area compared with 2.1 per cent in August.
But that same indicator for the euro zone countries rose 2.7 per cent, slower than the 3.1 per cent rise in the previous month.
"The latest composite leading indicators suggest that slow economic expansion lies ahead in the OECD area," the OECD said.
The six-month indicator for the United States climbed 2.6 per cent after rising 1.4 per cent in August and for Japan; the fall was less steep in September - a drop of 2 per cent compared with a 2.4 per cent fall the previous month.
The OECD also said the data for non-member economies pointed to a weakening outlook for Russia and India, moderating growth in China and steady expansion in Brazil.