More Than 1 in 3 Working-Age Americans Put Groceries on Credit in 2025

1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 29

More than 1 in 3 working-age U.S. adults used credit cards to buy groceries last year, according to a new Urban Institute survey, and many struggled to pay those balances off.
That reliance turns food spending into revolving debt, leaving families to make interest payments for years on groceries they have already consumed.
Urban Institute framed the shift as a sign of worsening affordability pressure on basic needs rather than discretionary spending stress.
The findings land as household costs remain a political flashpoint, adding fresh evidence that grocery prices are pushing more Americans to borrow for essentials.