The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index increased to 132.9 in the week ended December 27 from 131.9 the previous week.

The index's annualized growth rate was 1.8 percent, the same as a week earlier. The previous week's figure was originally reported at 1.9 percent.

(Americas Economics and Markets Desk; Editing by James Dalgleish)