High earners drive the latest retail surge, leaving others behind

A New York Fed analysis using Numerator EHIs shows that since 2023, retail spending growth has been a K-shaped pattern: high-income households (>$125,000) led nominal and real spending growth, while middle- and low-income groups lagged or contracted in real terms. The divergence widened after pandemic-era subsidies ended, and inflation hit lower-income groups harder due to income-specific price pressures. The study highlights macro risks from concentration of spending in a small segment and points to policy implications, with a companion post exploring the mechanisms behind this heterogeneity.