By Harriet Torry and Eric Morath The U.S. economy is expected to have recovered most but not all of its losses last year from the pandemic s initial shock, with growth that resumed in the second half of 2020 projected to pick up steam this year. U.S. gross domestic product figures set to be released on Thursday are expected to show it grew at a 4.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter, according to economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. Such an increase would add to the record gain in the third quarter and bring output closer to where it stood before the pandemic hit hard last March.