ECONOMY

U.S. Economists Predict Vigorous Growth: The U.S. economy will grow by 3% this year, adjusted for inflation, said a group of 51 economists polled by Blue Chip Economic Indicators. If they are correct, it would be the economy’s strongest performance since the 3.9% expansion in 1988. Momentum from the growth in the final quarter of 1993--now placed at an annual rate of 4.2%--will carry over into the new year, the panel predicted, with strength in housing, autos and other consumer durables persisting into 1994.