K-shaped economy is 'alive and well,' expert says — what new research shows

The so-called K-shaped economy is becoming more pronounced, new data shows. In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, the K has been used to illustrate Americans' diverging economic experiences : Higher-income households are increasingly better off, while lower-income households are falling further behind. A new report by credit reporting bureau TransUnion found that while credit conditions have improved for a large segment of consumers, others are struggling in the face of higher costs and rising debt burdens. The K-shaped economy is "alive and well," said Michele Raneri, TransUnion's vice president and head of U.S. research and consulting.