The U.S. economy continued to shrug off fears of a global economic downturn on the back of consistent job gains, wage growth and resilient consumer spending. After entering the year under a cloud of worry, American businesses and consumers appear to be overcoming many of the fears gripping financial markets and economies overseas in recent months. U.S. employers added 215,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said Friday, with growth in just about every domestically oriented sector. The unemployment rate, obtained from a separate survey of U.S. households, edged up to 5% in March, but that was largely due more Americans joining the labor force. The gains suggest parts of the economy powered by consumer spending, such as retail, housing and autos, are keeping the U.S. stable despite headwinds from abroad. “Any company facing the consumer is probably feeling pretty good about things right now,” said Stephen Stanley, chief […]