Grocery shoppers under financial pressure are spending more per purchase, giving retailers an opportunity to help households manage bigger bills with more flexible ways to shop and pay.

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That’s a central finding of “The New Checkout: Crimped Consumers Lean Into Online Retail and Digital Wallets,” a PYMNTS Intelligence report based on a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults conducted from Nov. 14 to Dec. 8, 2025. The research connects financial stress with greater use of online grocery shopping, stronger demand for value-focused merchants and higher digital wallet adoption. High-stress consumers spent an average of $109 on their latest grocery purchase, compared with $95 among low-stress consumers. Bigger purchases don’t necessarily indicate greater financial comfort. The report suggests they could reflect larger households or efforts to consolidate shopping into fewer trips. For grocers and payment providers, the findings point to an opportunity to help customers manage costs while keeping checkout straightforward.

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The broader findings show why practical help could find a receptive audience. About one in four parents with children under 18 experienced high financial stress, as did roughly one in four millennials and Gen Z consumers. Yet grocery purchase amounts overall remained relatively stable, averaging $98 in November 2025 versus $95 in January. Households are still buying essentials, giving grocers an opportunity to support repeat purchases through accessible savings and useful payment choices.

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