Marketplace All-in-One More K-shaped spending
Feb 12, 2026
Daniel Ackerman, a Marketplace reporter who covers labor and workplace trends, discusses research showing newer firms founded since 2015 are more likely to offer work-from-home options. The conversation also touches on widening spending gaps where middle-income households lag the wealthiest, and how businesses and arts organizations are adapting to economic pressures.
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Middle Class Under New Pressure
- Bank of America's data shows middle-income spending growth (1%) lagging high-income (2.5%), signalling pressure beyond just a rich-poor split.
- Carla Javier calls it a "K within a K," meaning the middle class may erode further and weaken consumer momentum.
Retailers Pivot To Value Assortments
- Retail analytics show shoppers across incomes are making budget trade-offs and switching to store brands more often.
- Rick Miller and Jessica Ramirez say retailers must downsize assortments and focus on value to avoid losses.
Plan Inventory Instead Of Resorting To Markdowns
- Plan inventory to match current demand instead of heavy markdowns like in the last recession.
- Jessica Ramirez advises retailers to optimize assortments for value and targeted opportunity areas.