Equifax Index Shows Pause in Widening Economic Gap

The U.S. consumer financial health metric, the Equifax Market Pulse Index, registered a pause in the widening economic "K-shaped" divide during the second quarter of 2026. For the first time in three years, the index's rise was not solely driven by the success of the wealthiest segments, but also by a gradual improvement for lower-income households.

The index saw a marginal increase from 60.9 to 61.3. This development coincided with record-low consumer sentiment. The improvement was primarily attributed to wealth and asset cushions, rather than credit scores or annual income alone, according to Equifax's report.

The report segments consumers into three groups: Thrivers (above 80 points), the Middle (50-79 points), and Strivers (below 49 points). This quarter, the Middle segment grew slightly, while the proportion of Strivers decreased, and the Thrivers group expanded. While one quarter does not establish a trend, this is the first time in a considerable period that all generations experienced financial improvement.

Assets, such as savings and other resources, remained the clearest dividing line between consumer groups. Over 97% of Strivers households possess less than $100,000 in assets, while nearly 78% of Thrivers hold more than $1 million. Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation X all saw increases in their index values.