A quarter of U.S. consumers are now financing groceries with buy-now, pay-later as economic pressures mount, survey says

• Consumers feel pressure from economic uncertainty It turns more into funding basic purchases such as grocery. A April poll showed an increase in Americans who use buying and paying the groceries of -25 % this year compared to 14 % in 2024.

More Americans benefit from funding options for basic purchases, which is the latest sign of interest in the health of the economy. Consumers have increasingly turned into purchase services and payment (BNPL) to grocery, according to the data issued by the Linding Marketplace TREE- and more of these shoppers restore those loans late.

A quarter of BNPL shoppers used the grocery, an increase of 14 % who used service a year ago, according to a lending tree survey that included 2000 American people who were conducted in early April.

Meanwhile, 41 % of the respondents said they had brought their loan late last year, although the vast majority had paid money within a week or less. Men, youth and borrowers with higher income were more likely to make late payments.

The increase in the popularity of BNPL coincided with the increasing fear of stagnation as a result of uncertainty about definitions and interest rates. The consumer’s feeling continued to be weak, as the index fell to 52.2 last week from 57 a month. A poll conducted by the Associated Press – Nor, found that about half of the Americans “or” are very “interested in the possibility of stagnation in the next few months.

“It is quite clear that with people’s struggle with inflation and other types of economic uncertainty, people are looking for things like BNPL loans to help them luck.

BNPL – a service that allows users to pay a purchase in additional pieces – has become an attractive choice for consumers interested in avoiding the risks associated with credit card or paying interest on the loan. However, the funding system without friction may increase spending and debt, allowing credit companies that provide the service to jump on the hidden late fees.

The payment strategy in abundance has achieved the wealthy people who seek luxury products, but its increasing popularity may indicate a shift in people’s financial priorities.

“When buying now, paid payment began, it was usually related to handbags, designed devices and such things,” said Schuls. “But now people look at things like grocery stores and food delivery.”

Increased appetite for BNPL

I have found BNPL services provided by applications such as Afterpay and Klarna a new foothold with consumers. Doordash last month announced a partnership with Klarna to allow customers to delay or divide payments on food requests. All the time, loan service is still common in large ticket purchases. Plate 60 % of ticket holders are found general acceptance of the coachella music festival used for a payment plan for this event. Festival owners can pay less than $ 49.99 for the price of the event of $ 599.

The spread of BNPL may indicate an increasing comfort with the financial risks, especially among the younger tunnels.

“We have a gambling economy,” said Kayla Sakanon, Economist of General Z on social media last month. “We have a mechanical, a sports bet. We love a good deputy in the United States, and we can do it completely without friction. Like, we do not even put the pants.”

At the same time, consumers generally try to avoid risks in times of economic uncertainty and high BNPL opportunities, consumers indicate the interpretation of the service as less dangerous, although shoppers do not help build credit that can help them at the bottom of the line financially. With the current economic background, it is expected that these loans will remain common, as Sholls predicted.

“I don’t think there is any reason for the belief that this will do anything but the increase,” he said.

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

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2025-04-28 17:30:00