The IMF said vaccines would help the US economy recover sharply in 2021 MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images The IMF expects the US economy to grow 5.1% in 2021, up from a previous forecast of 3.1%. It would be the strongest performance since 1984, with vaccines and stimulus driving recovery. But the IMF urged governments to keep spending and ensure all countries get vaccines. Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell. The US economy will recover at a much quicker pace than previously expected in 2021, as coronavirus vaccines and fiscal stimulus power the strongest growth since the 1980s, the International Monetary Fund predicted on Tuesday.The IMF upgraded its forecast for US economic growth in 2021 to 5.1%, an entire 2 percentage points higher than its October prediction.