Leading energy demand forecasting agencies last week were divided on whether the prospects for demand growth are improving or deteriorating.

The three - the International Energy Agency (IEA) for consumer nations, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Counties (OPEC) and the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) - have long struggled to accurately predict global oil demand changes.

Last week, the IEA cut its 2012 forecast for a sixth consecutive month to growth of less than 1 percent, or 0.8 million barrels per day. OPEC also painted a grim picture with a reduced growth estimate of 0.94 million bpd .

But the EIA raised its forecast to 1.32 million bpd.

Some analysts question whether some of the estimates have been cut too deep, too fast and say 2012 may yet surprise on the upside should the economy pick up.