Americans are using buy now, pay later (BNPL) services more than ever, including for everyday expenses such as groceries and bills. Multiple outlets report that the growing use reflects BNPL becoming a more common payment option beyond big-ticket retail purchases.
The accounts cite research by Federal Reserve economists indicating that Americans spent more than $160 billion last year using BNPL. Outlets also describe that consumers may use these plans to manage cash flow by splitting payments over time, which can make certain purchases easier to afford immediately.
While the coverage is largely consistent on the overall growth and the scale of spending, the outlets differ mainly in emphasis. Some focus on what consumers should know if they use BNPL, while others underline the broader economic indicator—total spending reported in the research. Overall, the reporting aligns on the rise in BNPL usage and the reported figure from Federal Reserve economists.
