The United States economy looks strong. Companies earn more money, and the stock market is up.
But many people feel worried. Prices rise, and jobs are hard to find.
Chipotle is a fast-food chain that sells burritos.
Many young and lower-income customers now visit less. They think the food is too expensive. They choose cheaper meals at home.
Chipotle says households that earn under $100,000 a year make 40% of its sales. These customers are now cutting back.
Other brands see the same split. Crocs shoes and Coca-Cola say rich shoppers keep buying expensive items.
But people with less money only buy what they need.
Economists call this a K-shaped economy. One line of the letter K goes up. That is rich people. They own stocks and houses, so they feel safe and spend more.
The other line goes down. That is lower-income people. Their wages do not keep up with inflation, and they sometimes lose jobs.
During the pandemic, government help gave poor workers more money. The gap became smaller for a short time.
Now the support is gone, and interest rates are high. Experts worry the gap will grow wider again.