The current state of the U.S. economy reveals a stark divide: prosperity for some, hardship for many.

This division resembles a K-shape, where one segment rises while the other declines.

On the ascending arm of this economic figure are those thriving. The top 10% of households in the U.S. are responsible for nearly half of all consumer expenditures, supported by unprecedented stock market gains. High earners are seeing the most significant increase in hourly wages, a shift from the pandemic period when lower-paid workers saw better growth, as noted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.