The Mighty American Consumer Is Crashing Through Inflation and Driving Growth

Spending is rising because prices are climbing and Americans are buying more stuff, despite long-running frustrations over inflationCHICAGO—Happy hour at Chicago’s Bar Roma was buzzing this past week as locals poured in for $10 cocktails and $11 bruschetta. Kathleen Harper and her husband would normally share a few appetizers, but tonight they were splurging on the $50 tasting menu.“After a long day—I work from home—I like to just get out of the house,” said Harper, who sells fraud-protection services. “Business has been good,” she added, “because fraud, unfortunately, is up.” Harper said she worries about the health of the economy...