The K-shaped gap widens: Here's what to know

• McDonald's reports mixed results, with U.S. traffic uneven due to weather, raising questions about whether consumers are 'trading down' for value.
• Two studies from Bank of America Institute and the New York Fed reveal a widening income disparity, with higher-income wages surging (6% Y/Y) compared to lower-income wages (1.5% Y/Y).
• Wealthier households maintain gas consumption despite price hikes, while lower-income families cut back, and real incomes for many have turned negative.
• Retail companies show disparate consumer health: Disney, Starbucks, Hershey's, and GM report strong consumer activity, but Whirlpool cites 'recession-level industry decline' in U.S. appliance sales, attributing it to the Iran war.

CNBC's Steve Liesman discusses the widening 'K-shaped' gap in the U.S. economy, where higher-income groups are experiencing significant wage gains and stable spending, while lower-income groups face stagnant wages, negative real incomes due to inflation, and reduced consumption. This disparity is evident in both wage growth and consumer spending patterns, with some companies thriving while others report recession-level declines.