From 'K-shaped' to 'stagflation.' What economic buzzwords mean for you

USA TODAY asked experts which terms are defining the U.S. economy in 2026. From \

Every so often, a new set of economic buzzwords enters — or reenters — the zeitgeist. This spring, terms like the "K-shaped economy" and "stagflation" are having a moment. 

They shape how politicians, pundits, and the media discuss the economy, but their nuances and real-world implications are often lost in the discourse. Stagflation fears, for example, are surfacing as oil prices spike due to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, reigniting inflation worries. Even Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he reserved the term for a "more serious set of circumstances" than what the nation faces today.

"I always have to point out that that was a 1970s term when unemployment was in double figures, and inflation was super high," Powell told reporters on March 18. "That’s not the case right now."

Still, such phrases capture real concerns about elevated prices, a slowing job market, and a widening gap between high-income and low-income households, but jargon can also obscure what economic developments mean for everyday Americans. 

USA TODAY asked experts which terms are defining the U.S. economy in 2026. Here are some of the most common, and a few to keep in mind for the future: