A measure of future U.S. economic growth rose in the latest week to its highest since April 2011, while the annualized growth rate also strengthened, a research group said on Friday.

The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based  independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index rose to 130.4 in the week ended Jan. 11 from a revised 128.1 the previous week, which was originally reported as 128.3.

The index's annualized growth rate improved to 6.1 percent, its highest since October, from 5.0 percent a week earlier. The previous week's figure was revised from an initial reading of 5.1 percent.