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The Indicator from Planet Money · Thursday, August 13, 2026

US Treasury Secretary Declares End of K-Shaped Economy, Predicts 'C-Shaped' Recovery

Treasury Secretary Scott Basset stated that the 'K-shaped economy' is over and that the US is now experiencing a 'C-shaped' economy. This implies a shift from a diverging economy where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer, to one where the top is declining and the bottom is improving.

personScott Basset

The tape

2 quotes
I can say here definitively the K-shaped economy is over, and we're seeing more of a C economy.
Scott Basset
The K described an economy that was diverging, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
Waylen Wong
Heard on The Indicator from Planet Money — “C is for C-shaped economy, published Thursday, August 13, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.01
US Treasury Secretary Declares End of K-Shaped Economy, Predicts 'C-Shaped' Recovery — Heardvine