Poll Finds One in Four Americans Use Installment Plans for Online Purchases

A Gallup poll released May 18, 2026, found that about one in four Americans are often or occasionally paying in installments when they buy things online. The figure rises among people worried about their finances. Thirty-seven percent of lower-income Americans report using installment plans either frequently or occasionally.

Forty-six percent of Americans who say they do not have enough money to live comfortably are paying in installments at least on occasion. Fifty-seven percent of those worried about making credit card payments use installment plans.

The polling provides data on consumer payment habits amid ongoing affordability concerns. The survey did not specify the exact sample size or margin of error in the initial release.

The results come as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over economic conditions. A conservative economist told The New York Times that Republicans could face challenges in the November election if inflation remains high.