safety
‘Buy now, pay later’ being used more for groceries, gas, other essentials
Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Justin Gray , as published by WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· August 21, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: WSB-TV (ABC) - News · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Justin Gray, as published by WSB-TV (ABC) - News Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 21, 2026 Indexed here Aug 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log · Publisher’s note
Key points Federal Reserve data shows that spending through these services has doubled in two years, reaching $160 billion last year. Consumers are increasingly using "buy now, pay later" services to cover everyday expenses.
Consumers are increasingly using "buy now, pay later" services to cover everyday expenses. Federal Reserve data shows that spending through these services has doubled in two years, reaching $160 billion last year. This shift indicates a change from primarily using these services for large purchases.
Many people struggle to keep up with payments. For some, these services have become a necessary part of managing household budgets. They are used for essential expenses such as gas, groceries, and daycare due to high costs.
Further details on this trend are available, including personal stories of those using these services to make ends meet.
More safety Today’s briefing Local events
Why this story is here
WSB-TV (ABC) - News reported and published this story. The Atlanta selected it, summarised the key facts above, and links to the original. We did not report this story and we added no reporting of our own to it.
About this story
As published by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta selects stories from publishers’ feeds, summarises them, and links back to the publisher that reported them. We add no reporting of our own. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor .
Category: safety ·
Published: August 21, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Consumers are increasingly using "buy now, pay later" services to cover everyday expenses. Federal Reserve data shows that spending through these services has doubled in two years, reaching $160…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 21, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Justin Gray at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter