Many Families Rely on Credit and Savings to Afford Groceries

This Urban Institute brief examines how rising grocery prices are forcing many families to rely on credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later loans, payday loans, and depleted savings to afford basic food needs. Drawing on data from the 2025 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey, the report highlights growing financial strain among working-age adults and underscores how the increasing cost of food is contributing to debt, financial instability, and heightened risk of food insecurity