Economists are a bit more optimistic about the U.S. economy as 2011 comes to a close, CNNMoney.com reported.

A CNNMoney survey of 20 top economists finds their fear of the economy falling into a new recession has subsided in the last three months. Economists put the chances of another recession at about 20 percent, down from a 30 percent predicted chance three months ago.

They also believe that the final readings on the economy will be among the strongest of 2011.

Gross domestic product is expected to have grown at a 3.3 percent annual rate in the final three months, the best pace since spring 2010 and nearly twice the 1.8 percent rate of the third quarter.

Still, growth for the full year 2012 is expected to be 2.4 percent, with only 2 percent growth in the first three months.