"The latest 2026 P&P Wave I Data Deck: The Financial States of America from Northwestern Mutual finds that 49% of Gen Z plan to use Buy Now Pay Later for large purchases in 2026, and 36% plan to use it for daily essentials like groceries and gas."
"When food and housing costs keep climbing faster than wages, deferring the grocery bill by a few weeks starts to feel less like a red flag and more like a reasonable workaround."
"It is not just a spending habit. It is a sign that a generation is quietly normalizing installment debt for purchases that most people never used to think twice about paying upfront."
Buy Now Pay Later services have become integral to Gen Z's payment methods, with 49% planning to use them for large purchases and 36% for daily essentials by 2026. Rising consumer prices and declining personal savings rates have contributed to this trend. Many Gen Z individuals are normalizing installment debt for everyday purchases, such as groceries, as a coping mechanism for financial pressures. This shift indicates a broader acceptance of financing options in managing household expenses, even as other debts accumulate.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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