One Economy. Two Experiences.

a close up of a one dollar bill by Adam Nir courtesy of Unsplash.

One Economy. Two Experiences.

Luke Sauter | Nov 13, 2025

The stock market hits new highs.

Luxury brands shatter earnings expectations.

Delta airlines sells more premium seats than coach.

And yet…

Some people postpone medical care.

Food bank lines stretch around city blocks.

Car repossessions have spiked.

So…is the economy booming or breaking?

Yes.

There’s a growing divide in how Americans experience the economy and it's largely shaped by income.

According to JPMorgan’s latest Cost of Living Survey, wealthier households feel optimistic about their finances. Many plan to spend more in the year ahead.¹

Meanwhile, lower-income households are far less confident.

Nearly 60% of high earners said their monthly bills feel easier to manage than a year ago. Only 30% of lower-income consumers said the same.²

And this gap isn’t just showing up in surveys. It’s playing out across corporate earnings reports.

Coca-Cola is thriving with premium drinks while also seeing more demand at dollar stores.³
McDonald’s says visits from lower-income customers have plunged.⁴
Procter & Gamble reports bulk buying among high earners, while others are stretching what’s left in their pantries.⁵
New car prices now top $50,000 even as loan defaults and repossessions climb.^{6, 7}
Delta’s premium seats and Hilton’s luxury rooms are selling fast, while budget options have lost steam.^{8, 9}

In other words, this isn’t just a feeling. The economy really is moving in two directions.

So, what’s behind the split?

It comes down to who owns what, and who feels what.

Over the last five years, home values jumped over 49%.¹⁰ The S&P 500? Up 91%. Altogether, Americans have gained more than $55.6 trillion in wealth.¹¹

But those gains didn’t reach everyone.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans hold nearly 9 out of every 10 invested dollars.¹² So when the market rallies, that group rides the wave. They spend more. They feel confident.

Meanwhile, the rising cost of basics (groceries, gas, rent) hits lower- and middle-income households the hardest. Even small price hikes can derail a tight budget.

And with credit still expensive, borrowing isn’t a safety net. It’s a burden.

In other words, we can almost picture the economy like two escalators running side by side.

One carries wealthier Americans higher, lifted by stock market gains and confident spending.

The other pulls many middle- and lower-income households down, strained by rising prices and a weaker job market.

The result? One economy, two realities.

In a two-track economy, the real question isn't which escalator you're on today - it's how to prepare for what might come next.

That's where thoughtful planning comes in. It helps you navigate both the ups and downs while staying focused on what matters most: your goals.

This is a natural time to check in and make sure your strategy still fits. A lot can shift in a few months, and I'm here if you'd like to talk through any changes on your mind.

Sources

1 . Yahoo! Finance, 2025 [URL: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americas-wealthiest-shoppers-are-boosting-spending--and-the-us-economy--while-lower-earners-pull-back-090035895.html]

2. CNBC, 2025 [URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/14/theres-a-shocking-disparity-between-how-high-income-and-low-income-earners-feel-about-the-economy.html]

3. Reuters, 2025 [URL: https://www.reuters.com/business/coca-cola-tops-quarterly-revenue-estimates-steady-soda-demand-2025-10-21/]

4. CNBC, 2025 [URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/05/mcdonalds-mcd-q3-2025-earnings.html]

5. CNBC, 2025 [URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/24/procter-gamble-pg-q1-2026-earnings.html]

6. Kelly Blue Book, 2025 [URL: https://mediaroom.kbb.com/2025-10-13-Kelley-Blue-Book-Report-New-Vehicle-Average-Transaction-Price-Hits-Record-High-in-September,-Surges-Past-50,000-for-the-First-Time-Ever]

7. The Guardian, 2025 [URL: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/17/us-car-repossessions-economy]

8. CNBC, 2025 [URL: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/09/delta-premium-travel-set-to-overtake-coach-cabin-sales-2026.html]

9. Luxury Travel Report, 2025 [URL: https://www.luxurytravelreport.com/hotels-resorts/articles/hiltons-earnings-say-it-all-travels-not-booming-but-its-still-strong]

10. Federal Reserve, 2025 [URL: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CSUSHPINSA]

11. Federal Reserve, 2025 [URL: https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/dataviz/dfa/distribute/chart/]