NEW YORK — A private research group's forecast of economic activity rose more than expected in April, the first gain in seven months.

The Conference Board said its index of leading economic indicators, designed to forecast economic activity in the next three to six months, rose 1 percent last month. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected an 0.8 percent increase.

Conference Board economist Ken Goldstein said that means declines in activity could switch to growth in the overall economy in the second half of the year.

The index is derived from 10 components including stock prices, the money supply, jobless claims and new orders by manufacturers.

The Conference Board said strengths among the components exceeded weaknesses for the first time in more than a year.