Financial Strain Reshapes How US Consumers Shop and Pay

A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,108 U.S. adults found that consumers facing recurring cash-flow shortfalls are using shopping channels and payment tools to manage their budgets. The shift is affecting not only retailer traffic but also authorization risk controls at banks and payment providers, along with digital-wallet features and checkout design.

The latest data, published April 14, 2026, showed that 56% of highly financially stressed consumers chose Walmart for their most recent online grocery purchase, while 37% chose it for their most recent in-store purchase. This group spent an average of $169 on its most recent online retail purchase, compared with $96 among consumers under low financial stress, and was 34% less likely to buy from Amazon. A separate February 26 report found that 30% of respondents had shopped online in the previous 30 days, up 13% from a year earlier.