• Equifax’s 1Q 2026 Market Pulse Index fell to 60.9 from 61.6, marking a second straight quarterly decline.
• Report flagged a deepening K-shaped economy, with consumers shifting from the “Pivoting Middle” toward higher stability or higher pressure.
• Thrivers shrank 5% while Strivers expanded 2%; the middle tier was flat, pointing to a contracting middle class.
• Across six quarters, most exits from the middle moved into Strivers; 97% of that shift was tied to holding under $100,000 in assets.
• All generations posted declines; Boomers+ remained strongest at 64.3, while Millennials fell to 58.1 with the largest share of Strivers.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Equifax Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via PR Newswire (Ref. ID: 202607080745PR_NEWS_USPR_____CL99459) on July 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.