Treasury secretary Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 3, 2026. Despite data to the contrary, the Treasury Secretary made the case that the K-shaped economy — shorthand for the divergent fortunes of the rich and poor — no longer exists. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times) By ALAN RAPPEPORT Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed the impact of inflation on lower-income Americans, declaring this week that the “K-shaped” economy —…
