The latest data on consumer borrowing indicates that households pared back on debt — overall — in February amid headlines and uncertainty about tariffs. Spending on credit cards inched up, at an anemic pace. In the latest reading from the Federal Reserve, total credit slipped...
In recent years, the narrative of financial insecurity has predominantly centered on middle and lower-income groups. However, a subtle but significant shift is emerging among high-income earners, as economic pressures drive increasingly reactive financial behaviors. The latest research by PYMNTS Intelligence reveals that as of...
Flexibility is the best weapon against uncertainty, especially during times of economic uncertainty. We pivot in the face of inflation, adjust our discretionary spending, trade down or make trade-offs. And in this environment, some flexibility when we make the transactions themselves at the register or...
When economic winds shift, so do consumer spending habits. But not always in expected ways. Amid tariffs, stubborn inflation and higher living costs, many consumers are walking a financial tightrope, juggling everyday expenses with unexpected needs and have-it-now desires. New data from PYMNTS paints a...
With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, return to office has become the dominant work mode. According to PYMNTS Intelligence survey data from January 2025, about 80% of employed consumers now work either in-office or in a hybrid setting and 63% of formerly remote workers...
Forget the open road and the roar of the engine. A new generation, the zillennials (those born between 1991 and 1999), are approaching transportation with a distinctly different mindset than their predecessors. As detailed in PYMNTS Intelligence’s latest report, “Generation Zillennial: Zillennials’ Transportation Choices May...
The influence of influencers when it comes to commerce may be a bit overstated. In fact, as PYMNTS Intelligence found in a report on the ways social media impacts commerce, though a significant percentage of consumers make some purchasing decisions based on the recommendations, remarks...
There’s increasing evidence that consumers are triaging their spending — picking and choosing where they will (or even can) allocate their money as tariffs and macro uncertainty cloud near-term economic horizons. The latest data on retail sales show that in February, per the initial reading...
Economists are reportedly concerned that recent stock market turbulence could drive down consumer spending. That’s because, per a report Sunday (March 16) by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the top 10% of American earners have in the last four years boosted spending by 58%. And...