The second part of the story—and the one most Fortune readers will already recognize—is that this economy is no longer moving as a single system. It is splitting into a “K-shape,” and what looks like resilience at the top increasingly masks fragility underneath.

Household spending is increasingly divided between wealthy consumers who are helping to keep the economy humming and everyone else.

Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the strength of the economy, warning the recently announced 4.3 percent gross domestic product

Concerns about inflation, tariffs and politics weighed on consumer sentiment in December, The Conference Board said.

A long-delayed government report showed GDP grew at an annual 4.3% rate for the July through September quarter, beating expectations.

If economic growth remains firm, inflation stays under control, and investors look for opportunities beyond the market's recent winners, mid-cap ETFs could realistically deliver returns of roughly 11% annually over the next few years. Here are three mid-cap ETFs I'm thinking about right now.

The economy remained on track this year, defying the gloomiest predictions. That doesn't mean Americans are thrilled with how things are going.

Can't find a job, but keep hearing that the economy is strong? That might be the economic story of 2026.