The rising cost of groceries is pushing more consumers to use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services for necessities such as groceries, according to new data from Adobe Analytics.
In January and February, BNPL's share of online purchases jumped 10 percent year-over-year, while revenue fell by 19 percent. This suggests more consumers are using the services for smaller purchases. In the meantime, groceries share of BNPL purchases skyrocketed 40 percent.
That compares to a 8 percent increase for apparel and a 14 percent drop for electronics.
“The rise of Buy Now Pay Later usage for groceries tells us that consumers are likely making bigger purchases online to take advantage of special promotions and stock up on staples, thus managing living expenses in more flexible ways,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights.
Overall, ecommerce demand is holding up despite economic uncertainty. In 2022, consumers spent $86.8 billion on groceries on ecommerce platforms, up 10.8 percent year-over-year.
“E-commerce demand has remained resilient in an uncertain economic environment, driven in part by lasting pandemic habits where consumers had no choice but to leverage online food and home furnishing shopping services,” Pandya said.
Karl Farmer, Vice President and Portfolio Managers at Rockland Trust Bank, breaks down why inflation and interest rates may stick at these levels, and why Bitcoin still carries some risks.
If you wince at the grocery store checkout, you’re not alone. Wall Street Journal reporter Jesse Newman breaks down why prices are so high – and not going down anytime soon.
An inflation gauge favored by the Federal Reserve increased in January, the latest sign that the slowdown in U.S. consumer price increases is occurring unevenly from month to month. (Getty Images)
Glen Smith, CIO at GDS Wealth Management, shares how investors can allocate their assets as the market broadens and why he’s eyeing June for the first potential rate cut.
