Americans are using buy-now-pay-later for gas and groceries, showing just how expensive daily necessities are now
Block says Afterpay use is spreading to gas and groceries, with pilots showing customers using BNPL for fuel 3.6 times and groceries 2.2 times.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Block says its Afterpay service is moving beyond bigger purchases and into everyday necessities. A pilot tied to Cash App debit cards found customers using BNPL for gas and groceries, underscoring how stretched household budgets have become.
Some people are borrowing a little bit when they buy gas or groceries, like paying for a pizza in smaller pieces instead of all at once.
Analysis
Block announced that Afterpay is now available on the Cash App debit card, and it paired the launch with pilot data showing BNPL use in categories like gas and groceries. The company said the test found the average customer used Afterpay nearly 3.6 times for gas purchases and 2.2 times for grocery purchases between Feb. 4 and May 15.
What the data suggests
The article frames the trend as a response to higher prices for daily essentials. It notes that gas prices are more than $1 a gallon above last year’s average, and that consumers are turning to installment-style payments at the pump as a result.
Why it stands out
BNPL has often been associated with clothing, electronics, and other optional spending. This story matters because it shows the product moving into recurring, necessary purchases where consumers may be short on cash even for basics.
Market signal
For lenders, payment firms, and consumer-finance observers, the shift matters because it can indicate stress in household budgets. It also shows how payment products are adapting to demand for short-term flexibility in everyday transactions.
Key points
- Block says Afterpay is now available on the Cash App debit card.
- A pilot found BNPL use in everyday categories, especially gas and groceries.
- The average customer used Afterpay 3.6 times for gas and 2.2 times for groceries during the test period.
- The article links the shift to higher gas prices and expensive daily necessities.
If this works as intended, more shoppers could get a little breathing room when cash is tight at the pump or grocery store. The integration could also make installment payments easier to use in everyday spending without extra steps.
The trend could also signal that households are relying on borrowed money for basics because prices are still hard to absorb. If that pattern grows, it may add another layer of debt to already strained budgets.
