America’s wealth gap has been widening for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the unequal disparity between the rich and the rest of the country, something classified as a “K-shaped” recovery. Today, the wealthiest consumers are spending at record-highs, while the rest of the country struggles to afford basic necessities like housing and groceries. CNBC’s Alex Harring breaks down the concept.
Produced, Shot and Edited by: Natalie Rice
Reporting by: Alex Harring
Additional Editor: Darren Geeter
Animation: Jason Reginato, Emily Park
Senior Managing Producer: Tala Hadavi
Additional footage: Getty Images
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Why America’s ‘K-Shaped’ Economy Is Here To Stay
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About The Author
When even CNBC can't sugarcoat it anymore
Don't let these elite adjacent rich suburbanites convince you that you can't change things. this was likely said during 1920's and France before french revolution.
Let's see what happens to the 'K-Shaped" Economy after the 2026 and 2028 elections.
As someone who came to the US as a dirt poor chinese student, but now financially comfortable, I do want to point out that most Americans are very irresponsible with their money. I was saving over 10% of what little money I made while studying and working minimum wage full time. Today I still see people who make much less money than me ordering door dash and buying new cars. Unlike social media, I think the minority of American who actually save and spend responsibly do become financially pretty well off. It's too bad that the vast majority of Americans have worse spending habits and less self discipline than most children in Asia.
Gai
Eat the rich because they’re eating us especially if you read the Epstein files
That happend in France too untill the revolution began 🤷🏻
mentions Reagan and Trump but not Obama and Biden? 🤔
The people at the bottom of the pyramid were the so-called "Vital and Essential" workers. So vital and essential, yet most didn't get hazardous duty pay, yet had to be tin he COVID environments, while those above them could stay at home and hide from COVID.
I'm debt free and doing great.
Ah yes, orange man bad…
an acquaintance of mine and his lady friend are both on disability (and presumably food stamps and medicaid.) neither have worked for over a decade. they recently bought a 3 bed/2 bath house with a 2 car garage – a beautiful home about 20 years old. they paid $315K for it. around here, a custom built 2 story brick home in a nice neighborhood goes for about $250K. I've worked for 30 years and can't afford a property like that. but they're "poor." do tell me how being "poor" in the USA is a bad thing exactly?
Workers need to unionize. We need people to vote in Democratic primaries to get rid of corporate Democrats. We need rent to buy laws and government to build more affordable housing. We need a progressive tax system and the abolition of tax breaks and subsidies for the rich. We need a higher minimum wage with guaranteed benefits by law, stronger union protections to make organizing easier, and stronger child labor laws. If none of that works, we just need a good old-fashioned revolution.
Gosh, this dude managed to trash the current Republican administration and even went all the way back to blame Reagan for today's problems! Poor guy, he doesn't have Trump Derangement Syndrome, he has Republican Derangement Syndrome.😂🤣😂🤣
If you look at all major recessions and the depression they caused less income inequality. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a major recession happening soon.
Kosher economy. More shiny new bombs and bars of gold to Israel!!! NOW!!!
why are these videos so short now?
I like your content
Very intersting content
Very useful
🤯 once you see the K-shaped reality you can’t unsee it, some people compound fast, others know everything and still struggle. I felt like I was falling behind no matter how hard I worked. When someone mentioned viral wave mastery (by Victor Hale) it flipped my mindset completely, leverage is the difference. Built once, automated traffic, let it scale. First month like 8k, now hovering 20k+ and I don’t feel trapped on the wrong side anymore. Hope this helps someone feeling squeezed
😮💨 this hits because I lived the split, some people accelerating while others tread water forever, I kept asking what side I was actually telling myself I’d end up on. Watching videos like this felt depressing but honest. I remember feeling like effort wasn’t enough anymore. Not usually commenting but when I stopped hoping the system would “even out” and built my own lane everything changed. I found Viral Wave Mastery by Victor Hale through a quiet group and first month around 9k shocked me. Now I’m doing 18k–26k months and the K-shape feels less scary when you’re not stuck in the middle, leaving this here quietly