The 2026 economy, brought to you by the letter 'K'

If you’ve been hearing the letter “K” invoked more frequently in discussions about the economy, it’s not coincidental. With ...
NPR

It's the year's biggest economic buzzword, but what exactly is a 'K-shaped' economy?

There's a divide in how Americans are doing financially. NPR's Stephan Bisaha explains a tool economists are using to explain it - the letter K. STEPHAN BISAHA, BYLINE: You might think of economists ...
NPR

What is a K-shaped economy?

In 2025, one of the biggest business buzzwords has been the idea of a "K-shaped" economy, in which there is a growing disparity between the rich and the poor. Let's take a cue from "Sesame Street" now ...
Marketplace

COVID's uneven recovery still haunts the economy

We look at why the unequal "K-shaped" pandemic recovery persists half a decade later, according to professor Peter Atwater. According to its proponents, that’s led to a rise in inequality, with many ...
KSL

What is a 'K-shaped' economy and why is it a concern?

SALT LAKE CITY — To borrow a phrase made famous by Sesame Street, today's economy is brought to you by the letter K and the number 175,000. Adopting letters as stand-in descriptors for economic ...