Industrial economies building toward upturn, report says

Spring is a time to shape up, and the world economy looks as if it's preparing for a workout, a report from the Conference Board says.

While the leading economic indexes for the seven major industrial countries continue to be mixed, a world economic recovery seems in the wind. The board's International Economic Scoreboard shows:

* Economic recovery is under way in the UK, France, and Japan, with their leading indexes rising at an annual rate of 4 percent, 3 percent, and 10 percent , respectively.

* West Germany's leading index is moving neither up nor down.

* Economic weakness continues in Italy, Canada, and the United States.