Stacy Cowley / New York Times: BNPL lenders like Flex, Zip, and Affirm are now pitching loans for basic household needs; Americans spent $160B through pay-later loans in 2025, up 2x from 2023 — The rapid growth of pay-later loans raises questions about whether their popularity is driven by consumer preference or desperation.
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August 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM
BNPL lenders like Flex, Zip, and Affirm are now pitching loans for basic household needs; Americans spent $160B through pay-later loans in 2025, up 2x from 2023 (Stacy Cowley/New York Times)
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