"The United States has reached a defining moment in its economic history. New data reveals that wealth inequality has hit levels unprecedented in modern American history, with the richest 1% now controlling nearly 32% of the nation's total net worth while the bottom half of Americans collectively hold a mere 2.5% of overall wealth. The latest US Bank Report paints a stark picture of economic divergence that economists describe as a "K-shaped" economy, where different segments of the population experience wildly different financial realities."
"The divide extends beyond wealth accumulation into how Americans earn their income. According to World Inequality Report 2026 data, worker compensation as a share of GDP has fallen to its lowest level in more than 75 years of Bureau of Labor Statistics tracking. This means the average nonfarm business worker receives an increasingly small slice of an economy that has largely boomed over the past 15 years, even as corporate profits and stock market values have soared."
Wealth inequality has reached unprecedented modern levels, with the richest 1% controlling nearly 32% of national net worth while the bottom half of Americans hold only 2.5% collectively. Economic outcomes have followed a K-shaped pattern, producing divergent financial realities across population segments. Worker compensation as a share of GDP has fallen to its lowest point in more than 75 years of BLS tracking, shrinking the share of national income going to average nonfarm workers despite booming corporate profits and elevated stock-market valuations. Consumer spending has bifurcated, with households under $75,000 cutting discretionary spending and higher earners increasing spending on travel and experiences.
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