The International Energy Agency says it has raised its forecast for global oil demand this year and next, based on stronger-than-expected economic data from North America and emerging countries in Asia.

The agency based in Paris raised its 2010 estimate to 87.4 million barrels a day, up 130,000 daily barrels from its previous forecast. It says that demand next year should hit 88.8 million barrels a day, 260,000 daily barrels more than earlier expected.

The agency is the energy arm of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a grouping of the world's richest nations.