New Reality Check news and trends

Bad Financial Management Habits Lead 30% of Affluent Consumers to Live Paycheck to Paycheck
Consumer Finance // February 27, 2024

The prices of goods and services will continue to weigh on U.S. consumers’ wallets in 2024. Most consumers still say they live paycheck to paycheck. Overall, 62% of consumers lived this way as of January 2024, down from 60% last year. This increase suggests the...

Nearly Half of Credit Users Expect Higher Interest Rates in 2024
Consumer Finance // February 03, 2024

It seems United States consumers expect little reprieve from inflation-fueled rising prices of goods and services moving into 2024. Although consumers report feeling somewhat better about their current finances, data shows that optimism for 2024 remains lukewarm. As of December 2023, 60% of consumers lived...

Nearly Two-Thirds of Struggling Consumers Revolve Credit Card Balances
Consumer Finance // December 19, 2023

The holiday season has offered little reprieve from the rising prices of goods and services still weighing on consumers’ wallets. Many consumers use credit cards as a cash flow management tool. As of November 2023, 62% of consumers lived paycheck to paycheck, with 20% struggling...

Interviews & Exclusives
Summer Staycations in Store as Consumers Trade Down on Travel

June 10, 2024
As we recently reported, despite steady signs of inflation, about half of U.S. consumers are planning to take summer vacations in the weeks to come — and many even anticipate spending even more this summer than last.  But, as PYMNTS Intelligence recently revealed in its latest edition of our “New Reality Check” report, “Paycheck-to-Paycheck Foodies […]

Nearly Half of Credit Users Expect Higher Interest Rates in 2024

February 03, 2024
It seems United States consumers expect little reprieve from inflation-fueled rising prices of goods and services moving into 2024. Although consumers report feeling somewhat better about their current finances, data...

Nearly Two-Thirds of Struggling Consumers Revolve Credit Card Balances

December 19, 2023
The holiday season has offered little reprieve from the rising prices of goods and services still weighing on consumers’ wallets. Many consumers use credit cards as a cash flow management...