Consumers Are Financing Their Groceries. What Does It Say About the Economy? NYT | Top Stories By: Julie Creswell 3 June 2025 at 02:17 Increased use of “buy now, pay later” loans may signal shifting consumer habits, but could also be a troubling sign of financial stress. © Kendrick Brinson for The New York TimesTia Hodge with her husband, Jason, and their daughter Naveah at their home in Austell, Ga. Mrs. Hodge uses a buy now, pay later service to help cover the cost of groceries.