U.S. economy defies the doomsayers (and historic markers) to avoid recession

The U.S. Federal Reserve started 2023 on a pessimistic note, saying a recession was "plausible," and in the months ahead, headline writers were quick to trumpet a looming recession.

But a recession never arrived and, increasingly, it looks like the United States is out of the woods and about to enter another significant growth phase.

The US economy grew m…