US inequality is getting worse in ways you might not expect

US inequality is accelerating, with the top 1% increasing their wealth share from 31.7% to 32.5% in just six months of 2026, while the middle class's share shrinks. Within the wealthy elite itself, the ultra-rich top 0.1% are pulling away from the rest of the top 1%, capturing two-thirds of recent gains largely through corporate profits. Despite roughly 6 in 10 Americans—including many Republicans—believing there is too much inequality, recent policy changes including tax cuts for the wealthy have made the problem worse rather than better.