Key stat: Half of lower-income household financial decision makers (50%) say their financial situation has gotten worse YoY, compared with just 22% of those with credit scores above 670, according to a December 2025 survey from Snap Finance.

Beyond the chart:

• The spending data confirms what lower-income households were already feeling. Households earning over $125,000 grew holiday spending 29% YoY, while low- and middle-income households each cut spending by roughly 4%, per a PwC analysis of Numerator data.
• Meanwhile, lower-income shoppers are increasingly borrowing to cover the shortfall. BNPL usage hit a record $20 billion during the 2025 holiday season, up 9.8% YoY, per Adobe, and outstanding revolving credit card debt jumped $13.8 billion in December alone, per the Federal Reserve.

Use this chart: Drop this in your next consumer finance or retail strategy meeting to show how differently the financial recovery is landing across income segments. Use the 50% vs. 22% split to benchmark your audience's financial health, and make the case for why messaging and offers need to vary by income tier.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• US Consumer Payment Method Trends 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• President Trump's Second Term (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the February 2026 Snap Finance report titled, "Closing the Credit Gap: 2026 Outlook Study." 1,423 US adults who are household financial decision makers were surveyed online using SurveyMonkey's panel during December 2025. Respondents’ answers were categorized by their self-identified credit scores above or below 670.

We prepared this article with the assistance of generative AI tools and stand behind its accuracy, quality, and originality.