The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said Monday that the latest readings from its composite leading indicators point to a slowdown in the pace of economic expansion.

The OECD composite leading indicators for March point to a slowdown in the pace of economic activity, it says.

“In most OECD countries signs of slowing growth are tentative, but stronger signals have appeared in France and Italy, and some evidence of a potential halt in expansion is emerging in China and Brazil,” it says.

The composite leading indicators (CLI) for the overall OECD area increased by 0.6 point in March, while the indicators for the United States and Japan outpaced the average, increasing by 0.8 and 0.9 points, respectively. However, the Euro area leading indicator increased by just 0.5 points.

Moreover, the CLI for Brazil and China decreased by 0.3 points in the month. The other members of the BRICs bloc, India and Russia, recorded moderate increases.

Separately, the OECD said that its members agreed to invite Estonia, Israel and Slovenia to join he organization, pushing its’ membership to 34 countries.

“Estonia, Israel and Slovenia, along with Chile that has just deposited its instrument to become a full member, will contribute to a more plural and open OECD that is playing an increasingly important role in the global economic architecture,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said. It is also in talks with Russia about joining.