'E-shaped' economy is replacing a K-shaped one in 2026, economist says: The middle class is 'spending in a nervous way' now

Economist Heather Long says the U.S. economy is diverging into three tiers of consumer behavior instead of two, amid an ongoing affordability crisis.

# 'E-shaped' economy is replacing a K-shaped one in 2026, economist says: The middle class is 'spending in a nervous way' now Economist Heather Long says the U.S. economy is diverging into three tiers of consumer behavior instead of two, amid an ongoing affordability crisis. **Read the full article:** [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/e-shaped-economy-replacing-k-shape-2026.html) *This article was originally published by CNBC. MoneyWiseInc provides expert curation of the best financial content from trusted sources.*