U.S. economic growth gauge climbs further: ECRI NEW YORK (Reuters) - A measure of future U.S. economic expansion pushed higher last week, while the annualized growth rate rose to its loftiest level in more than a year, a research group said on Friday. The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index increased to 127.7 in the week ended October 5 from a revised 126.2 the previous week. The prior week's figure was originally reported as 126.3. Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Dale Hudson