US shoppers increasingly prioritize preferred payment methods

A report by PYMNTS Intelligence, produced in collaboration with Visa Acceptance Solutions, reveals that 65% of American consumers say their preferred payment methods influence their choice of retailer. This represents a seven-percentage-point increase from January 2023. The influence of payment acceptance is consistent across both low-income and high-income demographics.

The study identifies several gaps between consumer expectations and retailer offerings. While 60% of shoppers desire price matching, only 47% of merchants provide it. Additionally, there is unmet demand for mobile product locators, digital coupons, and free shipping.

Regarding transaction reliability, 78% of buyers reported no issues with their most recent payment, a slight decrease from 80% in 2024. Meanwhile, payment errors and disputes rose from 7% to 10%. The report also notes a shift in shopping habits, with mobile phone usage within physical stores rising to 42%.