The U.S. economy is hitting a stride, growing at a 2.4-percent rate in the second quarter in a surprisingly strong showing that adds confidence to the idea that the nation may avoid a long-threatened recession. The growing economy comes coupled with other good economic news: Inflation is slowing, and unemployment sits at just 3.6 percent. Markets have noticed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up more than 4 percent over the last month and more than six percent this year, despite dropping on Thursday. It’s all good news for the White House and President Biden, who have used the recent...