The rich are getting richer... and going shopping

Retailers are running away from the middle class — in both directions

Shopping
(Image credit: Cate Gillon/Getty Images)

Several economic trends are redefining the retail landscape and continuing the bifurcation of the U.S. population. Just call us barbell nation.

The barbell effect has U.S. retailers concerned as the middle class gets squeezed and shoppers increasingly fall into the very high or very low end of the consumer spectrum. Simply put, the rich are getting richer and the middle class is getting poorer — and our retail stores reflect this.

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Laura Heller has been reporting on mass-market retail trends and initiatives since 1995 as a reporter for trade magazines, business outlets, and websites. She has appeared on national TV and radio programs discussing retail trends and her blog, The Point of Purchase, appears on Forbes.com