The American economy, like a stack of cards, is on the verge of collapse, making the American dream for the lower class increasingly out of reach.

The top 10% of wealthiest households in the United States are driving nearly half of consumer spending, thanks to the wealth growth brought about by the skyrocketing stock market, which in turn has boosted this year's economic output. Meanwhile, low-income families are cutting back on expenses due to tight budgets, high cost of living, and widespread layoffs by companies. During recent earnings conference calls, executives from companies such as Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., Hilton Worldwide Holdings, and Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. all mentioned this trend. Following the recent interest rate cut, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated that officials are closely monitoring signs of economic divergence. Economist Peter Atwater describes the current economy as "a tower of bricks with a heavy top and a light bottom." He introduced the concept of a "K-shaped economy" in 2020, where the situation for the wealthy continues to improve while the disadvantaged groups continue to decline.