Meet the $15 Trillion Generation Holding Up the Economy

I love Gen X. I love headlines about Gen X. This one caught my eye – according to a new NielsenIQ report, Gen X consumers will drive $15.2 trillion in global spending this year —more than any other

Not Boomers. Not Millennials. By the people who were born roughly between 1965 and 1980 — the first generation to grow up with dial-up internet… and now, they are the ones powering the economy. Even if it doesn’t feel like it because typical 50-somethings feel like they’re carrying the world on their shoulders.

Most Gen Xers I talk to — friends, clients, even the fiduciary advisors in my Wealthramp network — say the same thing: we’re juggling money in three directions (and generations) at once. Paying for college or helping adult kids get on their feet, supporting aging parents, and still trying to invest enough for retirement– which by the way, suddenly isn’t so far away.

It’s a lot. And they’re doing it quietly. Just showing up and paying for everything. They’re spending a lot on health, travel, home repairs, and family experiences. It’s purposeful. I wind up talking to a lot of Gen X’rs who are either Wealthramp clients or prospects looking for the right fiduciary advisor. They tell me it’s exhausting trying to balance all these priorities because prices are still high, interest rates haven’t budged much, and every financial decision just feels heavier than it used to.

Here’s what I’ve just learned about Gen X’rs and why we should all pay attention:

1. They’re driving consumer spending. But it’s not easy

2. They’re setting the tone for the next economic phase.
   Because how they invest, save, and spend — shape everything from financial product design to workplace benefits.

3. They’re supporting two other generations.
   When they tighten or redirect their spending, both younger and older family members feel the ripple effect — fewer gifts, fewer transfers, fewer big purchases.

4. They’re the test case for future retirement.
   How Gen X transitions into retirement will influence everyone coming behind them. They’re the first group navigating a world with fewer pensions, 401(k)-style plans, longer lifespans, and shifting Social Security policies. What works (or fails) for them will shape financial reform and cultural expectations around aging for decades.

So yes — Gen X is effectively the engine in the middle of the economy right now. They’re working, spending, saving, and caregiving at once — holding up both ends of the demographic barbell.

If you’re younger, Gen X’s habits are like a crystal ball for what your 40s and 50s might look like. If you’re older, their spending is propping up your portfolio and shaping the retirement landscape you’re living in.