Although the pace of economic expansion in the major industrialised countries slowed somewhat in 1995, the G-7 grew in average by 2.3% per year. The 1996 forecast to 2.4%. In order to stimulate their respective economies, several countries have eased their monetory policy. Among the major countries, the Japanese economy seems to be improving, but the US, Germany and the rest of the European countries are showing signs of economic weakness.