Urban Institute Survey Shows Rising Grocery Credit Use Among Americans

A mid‑July survey by the Urban Institute found that nearly two‑thirds of working‑age adults in the United States now rely on credit to purchase groceries. About 34.9% use a credit card and intend to pay the balance in full, while 19.6% can only make the minimum payment and 8.7% cannot meet the minimum at all. Roughly 10% reported using Buy‑Now‑Pay‑Later services, with more than a third missing a payment.

The report highlights that low‑income households are the most affected: over half of low‑ and moderate‑income families use debt for food purchases, compared with about one‑third of higher‑income adults. Some respondents have tapped long‑term savings, payday loans, or other high‑cost borrowing to cover grocery bills. Researchers warn that persistent reliance on such debt could damage long‑term creditworthiness and financial independence, especially as the share of people unable to make minimum payments has risen by 1.6% since 2023.