U.S. Consumers’ Inflation Coping Strategies Falter, Challenging Financial Services Providers

U.S. consumers remain under pressure from the cost of living and are responding by cutting discretionary spending, changing their shopping habits and using credit. A PYMNTS Intelligence survey found that 75% of respondents said their strategies for coping with inflation were not working, while more than half struggled to afford everyday expenses. The findings suggest banks, payments companies and credit providers need to reassess their product designs.

As of July 19, 2026, related reports showed that only 25% of consumers believed their existing cost-cutting plans remained effective, while about 50% were struggling with daily costs. Younger consumers were also using multiple approaches at once to balance their finances. The materials provided did not specify the survey’s publication date, sample size or any dollar amounts, but the core indicators still pointed to weakening household financial resilience.