From July 2–5, 2026, Data for Progress conducted a poll of 1,164 likely voters, looking at how Americans use Buy Now, Pay Later products and measuring their support for policy action.
Nearly 4 in 10 respondents, and nearly 6 in 10 respondents under age 45, reported using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products. Among BNPL users, a significant number report using these products to pay for essentials—like groceries (46 percent), medical or dental care (42 percent), rental or other housing costs (33 percent), utility bills (39 percent), gasoline (38 percent), and childcare (22 percent). 40 percent of BNPL users also report using it to make a payment on another debt, further highlighting the degree to which Americans are relying on these products just to get by.
Across party lines and regardless of whether they have ever used BNPL products, voters strongly support common sense regulations like requiring BNPL companies to cancel a BNPL loan when you return a purchase, explain the terms of a loan in advance, and pause your payment if they make a mistake. View the full crosstabs here and the results among BNPL users here.
See below for key poll findings.
Jump to further resources.
View the Full Crosstabs Here.
View the Results Among BNPL Users Here.
Read the Report: A Loan in Every Cart: How BNPL Lenders Take Advantage of Americans’ Financial Desperation and the Case for a BNPL Borrower Bill of Rights
Read the Press Release: Widespread Financial Desperation Pushing Americans to Lean on Fee-Laden Buy Now, Pay Later Loans to Make Ends Meet, New Protect Borrowers Investigation Shows
Read the Substack/Blog: How Buy Now, Pay Later Lenders are Racing to Put “A Loan in Every Cart”