Uber and DoorDash bet on higher earners. It's paying off big.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
A person walks away from the camera carrying a green paper Uber Eats bag while wearing dark pants and red, yellow, and black sneakers.
High-income consumers buoyed quarterly results at Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

McDonald's CEO just shared some bad news about the K-shaped economy

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Environment
McDonald's President and CEO Chris Kempczinski listens as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the McDonald's Impact Summit at the Westin DC Downtown on November 17, 2025.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said spending patterns between higher- and lower-income consumers will diverge further.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

The spike in gas prices is worsening the K-shaped economy

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
Person pumping gas into their vehicle at a gas station
New research examined how gas spending has changed across income groups.

Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images

Two grim realities are keeping the K-shaped economy alive

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
People walking in New York City
Inflation is disproportionately slamming lower-income workers, while the top of the income distribution has benefited from roaring stock prices.

Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Delta's CEO said affluent passengers, 'immune' to geopolitical conflict, are driving sales

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
Ed Bastian, chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines Inc., during an interview on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said premium passengers were driving up its sales.

NYSE

2 charts show how the highest and lowest earners spend their money

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
Close-up of people at a table with pastries and other food, with flowers in a vase in the middle of the table
High- and low-earners spend different amounts on food.

Maria Korneeva/Getty Images

The K-shaped economy is more split than ever — and it's showing up in groceries, credit cards, and the workplace

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
people shopping at a grocery store in new york city
Lower-earning Americans are cutting back on some grocery spending, while higher earners are buying meats and fruits.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The economy grew strongly last year, but hiring stagnated. It's making the gap between the rich and everyone else worse.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
A crowd of people in the street.
The US added very few jobs in 2025.

Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images

The K-shaped economy is reshaping Valentine's Day spending

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Business
A box of chocolates

Getty Images; BI

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