PayPal survey shows holiday spending trends and Etsy renews Payoneer deal

A 2026 Holiday Shopping Survey by PayPal indicates that while 58% of U.S. adults express increased financial concern, 64% expect to spend the same or more than the previous year. Consumers are becoming more deliberate, with 38% planning to purchase toys and games. Shoppers are increasingly prioritizing budgets, price comparisons, and promotions, with many planning to shop before Thanksgiving.

Flexible payment options are gaining traction; 55% of consumers have used or considered “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) methods, and 75% of that group plan to use or consider it this holiday season to manage costs. To fund holiday spending, 39% of respondents indicated they would reduce spending on other areas, such as dining out.

In separate e-commerce news, Etsy has renewed its partnership with Payoneer to provide seller payouts through 2029. This agreement allows eligible sellers in 16 markets across Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East to receive payouts in U.S. dollars. This follows the announcement that Nuvei Corp. intends to acquire Payoneer for $2.75 billion, a deal projected to close in mid-2027.