[…] Increasingly, consumers strategically use multiple credit products to maintain financial flexibility and maximize benefits. Credit cards remain the most widely used product, with 68% of consumers holding active accounts. Higher-income consumers lead in adoption of credit cards, in addition to mortgages and other key products. More than half of consumers express interest in obtaining new credit products, signaling ongoing demand. Lenders aware of these demands can position their products to appeal to credit seekers. Consumers often rely on credit to bridge financial gaps, as 61% of consumers use credit out of necessity at least occasionally, and 20% would forgo essential purchases without access to preferred credit options. Monthly spending on credit cards and store cards averages $2,721, underscoring the pivotal role credit plays in how consumers manage their finances. [PYMNTS] […]