*A growing trend in the United States shows more consumers using “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services to cover essential purchases, including groceries.
A new survey from Lending Tree reveals that 25% of respondents used BNPL loans for groceries in 2025, a notable increase from 14% in 2024 and 21% in 2023, CNBC reports. The rise in BNPL usage is happening amid the pressures of ongoing inflation, high interest rates, and economic uncertainty. The findings, based on a survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers, also highlight a troubling trend: 41% of those using BNPL services reported making a late payment in the past year, up from 34% the year before. Many consumers admitted to paying late by no more than a week. Matt Schulz, Lending Tree’s chief consumer finance analyst, attributes these trends to the financial strain felt by many Americans.
“A lot of people are struggling and looking for ways to extend their budget,” Schulz said.
“Inflation is still a problem. Interest rates are still really high. There’s a lot of uncertainty around tariffs and other economic issues, and it’s all going to add up to a lot of people looking for ways to extend their budget however they can,” he added. “For an awful lot of people, that’s going to mean leaning on buy now, pay later loans, for better or for worse.”
BNPL services allow consumers to split their purchases into smaller, interest-free payments, making them an attractive option for those needing to stretch their budget. However, late payments can lead to high fees, and the accumulation of multiple loans can pose a risk. According to the survey, 60% of BNPL users have had multiple loans at once, with nearly 25% juggling three or more.
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“I do think it’s going to get worse, at least in the short term,” said Schulz. “I don’t know that there’s a whole lot of reason to expect these numbers to get better in the near term.”
Schulz cautioned consumers to be cautious with these services, emphasizing the importance of managing multiple loans responsibly. “Even though they can be a really good interest-free tool, there’s also a lot of risk in mismanaging it,” he said.
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