U.S. recovery 'unlikely to falter' anytime soon-ECRI

NEW YORK, Oct 2 (Reuters) - An index of future U.S. economic growth slipped in the latest week, but its yearly growth rate climbed to a new record high, indicating a smooth recovery in the near-term, a research group said on Friday.

The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index slipped to 127.1 in the week to Sept. 25 from an upwardly revised 127.9 the prior week, which was originally reported as 127.8.

Last week's figure marked a 60-week high.

The index's yearly growth rate rose to new all-time high of 25.1 percent in the latest reading from 24.3 percent the prior week.

"With WLI growth rising to yet another record high, the economic recovery is highly unlikely to falter in the next few months," said ECRI Managing Director Lakshman Achuthan.

Achuthan recently told Reuters that unease over rising unemployment, debt-laden consumers, and fears of a dip in economic growth are typical of recessionary times, and do not necessarily signal roadblocks to recovery.

Last week, Achuthan said current data shows that economic recovery is "far from fragile." (Reporting by Camille Drummond, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)