Gen X was supposed to be the economy's safety net—now they're the 'struggling middle child' balancing retirement and paying for adult children

Illustration of man balancing large egg on top of pile (Credit: rob dobi - Getty Images)

Gen X was meant to be the dependable consumer—the reliable generation firmly on the property ladder, preparing to inherit trillions from their boomer and silent generation parents.

And indeed, they are the shoppers whose spending has helped prop up the economy—surprising even the most experienced on Wall Street with how resilient their spending habits could prove to be.