Payment Gaps Cost Merchants Holiday Sales, ETA-TSG Study Finds
WASHINGTON – October 30, 2026 -- Fifty-seven percent of U.S. consumers report a negative consequence for merchants that do not accept their preferred payment method, according to the seventh annual Consumer Holiday Spending Study from the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) and TSG (The Strawhecker Group). The study of 1,099 U.S. consumers, conducted September 8-13, 2026, also found that 44% feel more financially stressed than last year, up from 27% in 2025.
Financial stress and holiday debt rise sharply year over year
Thirty percent of respondents report more debt than two years ago, up from 17%. Thirty-three percent say they usually take on holiday debt or likely will this year, up from 19%.
Concern rose across all eight shopping issues measured, led by inflation at 82%. Concern about gift affordability reached 64% and concern about managing a budget reached 57%, each up 17 percentage points.