Economic pressure is reshaping how US consumers pay in 2026. They’re rebalancing between credit, debit, cash, and emerging alternatives as financial stress widens gaps in spending power and payment preferences. Here’s what it means for payment providers’ strategies.

Key Question: How will consumers change the way they pay for retail purchases in 2026?

Key Stat: Credit card transaction value will cross the $4 trillion mark for the first time in 2026, up 5.6% YoY, per our forecast, as affluent cardholders sustain spending despite a pullback by lower-income segments.