# Pay-later lending for household needs reaches $160 billion, report says

_Monday, August 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT · Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

Buy-now-pay-later lenders including Flex, Zip and Affirm are pitching loans for basic household needs, according to a New York Times report summarized by Techmeme. Americans spent $160 billion through pay-later loans in 2025, twice the amount reported for 2023. The report says the expansion raises questions about whether rising use reflects consumer preference or financial distress.

## Sources

- [Techmeme](https://www.techmeme.com/260817/p32#a260817p32)

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Retrieved: 2026-08-18T01:20:32.644Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)