Washington, D.C. — Rising food costs are pushing more Americans to rely on savings, credit cards, and buy-now-pay-later services to cover grocery bills, according to a new Urban Institute analysis.
The report, based on December 2025 survey data, found that 19.6% of adults ages 18 to 64 used savings not intended for daily expenses to pay for groceries last year. A larger share, 63.2%, said they used credit cards for groceries.
Slightly more than half of credit card users paid their balances in full, while more than 3 in 10 paid less than the full balance but made minimum payments. Nearly 14% of grocery credit card users did not always make the minimum payment, up from 2023.
The report also found that nearly 10% of adults used buy-now-pay-later services for groceries, and about one-third of those users missed a payment.
Food prices remain a pressure point for households. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported food prices were up 3.1% year over year in May, with grocery prices up 2.7%. The Urban Institute said food costs have risen roughly 32% over five years.
The report comes as SNAP changes and food affordability remain major political issues.
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