Business economists were bullish on the economy.

The U.S. economy will grow stronger and inflation will grow weaker this year because of the recent drop in oil prices, according to a survey by the National Assn. of Business Economists. The 300 economists who responded to the survey were more optimistic about economic growth than three months ago, when a survey indicated that 15% expected the present recovery to last another two years. In the latest poll, 37% predicted that the recovery would last until 1988 or longer, while 51% expected a recession next year.