As the United States gears up for presidential, congressional and local elections in November, the country’s economy is also on a rollercoaster ride. Attempts to stop the spread of the coronavirus in March put tens of millions out of work, pinched spending and slowed factory output. As many states began relaxing their lockdowns in May, some of that data went into reverse: jobs started coming back, factories made more stuff, and households bought it up. With some states now shutting businesses again and shoppers and diners worried amid a recent resurgence of infections, those gains could reverse. Amid the upheaval, ... (full story)