Here's something wild: Black Friday just smashed every sales record in the books. Yet consumer sentiment? Absolutely tanking.

Most analysts treat this as a puzzle. Maybe it's not.

What if we're watching a bifurcated economy in real-time? One segment thriving, spending aggressively, driving those headline numbers. Another segment struggling, pessimistic, barely hanging on.

The aggregate data shows record spending. The sentiment surveys reveal widespread anxiety. Both datasets might be telling the truth—just about completely different populations.

This isn't your typical economic cycle. It's a wealth divide playing out in the shopping data. The top earners keep the cash flowing while the broader base feels the squeeze. Traditional economic indicators start breaking down when you've got this kind of split.

Pay attention to the distribution, not just the totals. That's where the real story lives.