Scott Bessent's claim that the K-shaped economy is over drew pushback from economists who said current evidence is too mixed to declare the divide finished.
Moody's Analytics data shows households earning more than $200,000 have kept increasing spending, while spending for everyone else has been largely flat.
Atlanta Fed figures also show wages for the highest-paid workers still rising faster than for the lowest-paid, undercutting Bessent's argument that lower-end pay is now leading.
Ryan Nunn of the Yale Budget Lab said wage growth has looked more even in recent months, but he wants more labor-market data before concluding the gap is truly narrowing.