One in seven Americans now use BNPL to buy groceries The number of Americans using BNPL services like Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay for food has surged. A LendingTree survey found that 25 percent of BNPL users are using the loans for groceries—up from 14 percent last year. This isn’t budgeting. It’s survival.
“A quarter of Americans now use BNPL loans to pay for groceries, up 14% from last year, according to a recent survey from LendingTree.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buy-now-pay-later-bnpl-loans-groceries/
41 percent of BNPL users missed payments in the past year Most paid back within a week, but the late fees stack fast. The loans are marketed as interest-free, but missed payments trigger penalties. Food on layaway. Debt by dinner.
“41% of customers who have used a BNPL loan say they have made a late payment in the past year, up from 34% the year prior.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/markfaithfull/2025/04/28/american-consumers-turn-to-buy-now-pay-later-for-groceries-as-high-costs-bite/
https://twitter.com/1200616796295847936/status/1954930054217044463
BNPL use for food is exploding, even for delivery apps Klarna now partners with DoorDash to let users delay payment for groceries and meals. The pitch is simple: pay when your paycheck hits. That’s not convenience. That’s desperation.
“Klarna in March partnered with food delivery service DoorDash to offer a BNPL plan that consumers can use to pay for meal and grocery deliveries.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buy-now-pay-later-bnpl-loans-groceries/
BNPL usage in the U.S. will hit 91.5 million people this year That’s nearly one in three Americans. The fastest growth is in low-income households using BNPL for essentials. This isn’t fintech innovation. It’s a symptom of collapse.
“In 2025, 91.5 million American consumers will use BNPL, up 5.78% year-over-year.” https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/buy-now-pay-later-statistics/