Buy Now, Pay Later in U.S. Shopping

Gallup found that more than half of Americans have used buy now, pay later installment plans for online purchases, with usage especially high among lower-income households, underscoring how flexible payment tools are becoming more embedded in everyday shopping behavior.

This growing reliance on installment payments highlights continued financial pressure and value sensitivity among consumers, creating implications for retail, e-commerce, financial services and discretionary spending categories that increasingly depend on affordability, payment flexibility and budget-conscious purchasing behavior.