Commentary
In 2023, Americans used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services to finance over $100 billion in U.S. retail transactions, up nearly fivefold since 2020. This surge has alarmed personal finance professionals and media commentators. Their concerns fall into two related categories. First, overall levels of consumer debt are rising. Second, the way these loans are designed and advertised—buy now, pay later—encourages consumers to take on more debt, increasing the risk of overextension.