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News/Deals

A quarter of working-age Americans charge groceries to cards they cannot repay, study finds

A quarter of working-age adults in the United States are using credit cards to buy groceries and struggling to repay those debts, a new study finds. Millions of Americans are also taking on debt and drawing down savings to cover food costs.

By Reuben Salcedo·Sep 18, 2026·1 min read·deals

Key takeaways

  • A new study finds that a quarter of working-age U.S. adults are using credit cards to buy groceries and struggling to repay those debts.
  • Millions of Americans are taking on debt and drawing down savings to cover food costs.
  • Because grocery spending is non-discretionary and recurring, interest compounds on unpaid grocery balances rather than clearing at the end of the billing cycle.
  • The study identifies a separate group of people who are meeting food costs through savings drawdowns rather than new credit.
  • The savings being used to cover food costs are a finite pool.

A quarter of working-age adults in the United States are using credit cards to buy groceries and struggling to repay those debts, a new study finds. Millions of Americans are also taking on debt and drawing down savings to cover food costs.

The repayment shortfall is the operative detail. Grocery spending is non-discretionary and recurring. When a quarter of working-age adults are carrying grocery balances they cannot service, interest compounds on that baseline expense rather than clearing at cycle end.

For a separate population that the study identifies, food costs are being met through savings drawdowns rather than new credit. That pool is finite.

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Source: cbsnews.com
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Frequently asked

What did the study find about Americans and grocery costs?

It found that a quarter of working-age U.S. adults use credit cards to buy groceries and struggle to repay those balances, while millions of others take on debt or draw down savings to afford food.

Why is the repayment shortfall considered significant?

Because grocery spending is non-discretionary and recurring, unpaid balances accumulate compounding interest on a baseline expense instead of being cleared each billing cycle.

How are some Americans covering food costs without credit?

The study identifies a separate group of people who cover food costs by drawing down their savings rather than taking on new credit.

Why is relying on savings to buy food a concern?

Because savings are a finite pool, meaning that source of funds can eventually run out.