2020‑2021: Pandemic‑era policy drives ultra‑low mortgage rates below 3%, enabling a cohort of homeowners to lock in cheap financing and build wealth, while later borrowers face higher costs, cementing a wealth gap that persists into 2025 (source [3]).

2023‑2024: Inflation‑adjusted wages for the bottom income quartile rise 3.9% versus 3.1% for the top quartile, but growth slows to 1.5% for lower earners by 2025, widening income divergence (source [4]).

Q3 2025: U.S. GDP expands 4.3%, inflation stays under 3%, and unemployment hovers between 4%‑5%, presenting a robust macro picture that masks growing inequality (source [2]).

2025: Total household debt reaches a fresh record, and seriously delinquent credit‑card balances climb to 12.41%, the highest level in over 14 years, signaling mounting financial strain for many families (source [2]).

2025: Consumer bankruptcies hit a five‑year high and student‑loan delinquencies remain at record levels, especially among older borrowers, raising concerns of further defaults (source [2]).

September 2025: Atlanta Fed data show 12‑month wage growth of 3.7% for the bottom quartile versus 4.4% for the top earners, underscoring the persistent K‑shaped wage gap (source [3]).

2025: Approximately 20% of U.S. homeowners retain sub‑3% mortgage rates, preserving wealth advantages for those who locked in rates during the pandemic (source [3]).

2025: The Federal Reserve cuts its benchmark rate by about 1.75 percentage points over the prior two years, aiming to support the labor market while pursuing a 2% inflation target, but officials acknowledge the tool’s bluntness for addressing inequality (source [3]).

Dec 27, 2025: Federal Reserve officials publicly admit they cannot “fix” the K‑shaped recovery, describing monetary policy as a blunt instrument and emphasizing the need to keep the labor market resilient; San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly posts on LinkedIn that “real wage gains come from long, durable expansions” (source [3]).

Dec 31, 2025: Analysts warn the K‑shaped economy leaves many Americans worse off as record debt, rising delinquencies, and uneven wage gains combine with shrinking safety‑net support and persistent tariffs, while noting possible relief from price cuts, Fed rate cuts, and expanded child‑tax credits (source [2]).

Early 2026: U.S. income inequality widens rapidly, with delinquency rates climbing and the “K‑shaped” recovery benefiting high‑income households while leaving many behind, despite solid overall growth, low inflation, and a stable unemployment rate (source [1]).

2026 (future): Anticipated policy actions include potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, negotiations to reduce tariffs that could lower consumer prices, and tax measures such as expanded child‑tax credits, all aimed at easing pressure on lower‑ and middle‑income families (source [2]).

2026 (future): A new Federal Reserve chair is expected to take office, potentially spurring growth but also risking higher inflation, while corporations like Coca‑Cola pursue premium and affordable product lines to navigate the divergent consumer market (source [4]).

2026 (future): CNN plans to feature personal financial outlooks from readers, inviting households to share how they expect their finances to fare throughout 2026 and beyond (source [1]).