Use of Buy Now, Pay Later for Groceries and Essential Expenses
Recent survey data from LendingTree indicates a significant increase in U.S. consumers using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans to purchase groceries and manage essential daily costs.
Aggregated from 7 sources · Updated 31 Jul 2026, 04:02 UTC (UTC)
Coverage Balance
7 sourcesBlindspot Alert: Center Gap
This event is primarily covered by one side of the political spectrum. Niche or counter-narrative facts may be underrepresented.
Facts (11)
- Established
29% of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) users have used the service for groceries, a figure that has increased from 14% two years ago.
- Established
47% of BNPL users report having made a late payment in the past year, compared to 34% in 2024.
- Established
54% of BNPL users state they would be unable to make ends meet without using these loans.
- Conflict
LendingTree data from April 2025 reported the grocery usage figure at 25%, while reports from mid-2026 place it at 29%.
- Emerging
Approximately 38% of Gen Z BNPL users have used the services specifically for grocery purchases.
- EmergingNiche Signal
BNPL providers originated $157 billion in consumer credit products in 2025, up from $116 billion in 2024.
- Emerging
13% of BNPL users reported using the loans to pay for rent.
- Emerging
1 in 4 BNPL users have managed three or more active loans simultaneously.
- Emerging
15% of BNPL users have used the service for medical, dental, or veterinary bills.
- AttributionNiche Signal
A source from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond stated that BNPL's impact on broader financial stability currently appears limited.
- Attribution
Convenience is cited as a more significant factor than interest-free terms for consumers choosing BNPL services.