Consumer Research
Money and Mental Health 2023
Background: This early 2023 report examines how money impacts consumers’ mental health. Finances are the most common stressor, with 44% of all consumers who felt stressed recently attributing it as their top cause. Among those who reported feeling stressed due to finances, 35% attributed it to inflation. The report highlights how consumers deal with financial stress, including using digital payments to split the cost of household expenses and when they learned to manage finances. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
2022 "Holi-Pay" Season: Gift Giving and New Year's Resolutions
Background: This November 2022 report examines holiday gifting trends, including what types of gifts consumers prefer to receive and give. Most notably, the study found that most people prefer to receive money as a gift for the holidays, and nearly half of consumers (48%) would prefer to receive money via digital payment instead of by cash or check. The report also highlights consumer sentiments on in-person activities and travel this holiday season, as well as New Year’s resolutions. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
2022 Tipping Behavior and Trends
Background: This October 2022 report highlights how consumer tipping behavior has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also examines how consumers navigate tipping during the holiday season when giving back to trusted service providers, such as a nanny, teacher, housekeeper or delivery person. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
2022 Consumer Spending Trends and Inflation
Background: This September 2022 report examines how consumer behaviors have been impacted by inflation. The report determines whether inflation has had an effect on how consumers spend their money and their shopping habits. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
Consumer Education and Financial Literacy 2022
Background: This September 2022 report highlights consumer openness to financial education programs and the sources they rely on for financial literacy and money management. It also explores the impact of finances on mental health. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
2022 Catfishing Trends and Consumer Scam Awareness
Background: This September 2022 report focuses on consumer awareness of scams, including the sources they use to learn about scams and their confidence in their ability to identify a scam. It also explores trends around “catfishing” and the prevalence of scams on dating apps or websites. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-75.
2022 Trends: Back to School, Fall Activities and Events/Concerts
Background: This September 2022 report highlights consumer trends and preferences related to the back to school season, fall activities and events/concerts. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-72.
Consumer Finances and Scam Awareness 2022
Background: This July 2022 report explores consumer spending habits, money management and impact on mental health, gifting trends and scam awareness and education. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-72.
Inflation Impact 2022
Background: This May 2022 report focuses on consumers’ sentiments around inflation and its impact on their personal finances, including spending habits, rising gas prices, side-hustles/gig economy and financial stability. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-75.
Lifestyle and Small Business 2022
Background: This March 2022 report focuses on consumer payment preferences, P2P service usage trends for sending money to those in need and interacting on social media, small business preferences, and concerns when using a P2P service. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-75.
Consumer Education, Money & Dating 2022
Background: This March 2022 report focuses on consumers’ sentiments around financial literacy, learning about scam trends, online dating and dating scams, and using P2P services for online-only relationships. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-75.
2021 Holiday Gifting Trends & Consumer Attitudes
Background: This November 2021 report focuses on consumer attitudes toward holiday preparation and travel, holiday gifting, holiday stress and well-being and financial New Year’s resolutions. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-72.
Travel and Holidays 2021
Background:This October 2021 report focuses on consumers’ comfort level with domestic travel and in-person gatherings this holiday season. The study also highlights whether consumers are willing to spend more money on gifts to make up for time lost last year. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-72.
Back to School Attitudes & Behaviors
Background:This September 2021 report provides insights into the attitudes and behaviors of parents during this back-to-school season. The report delves into lifestyle and financial topics, such as using digital payments to pay for school functions and fees, how parents share the cost of school expenses with other parents and how parents feel about schools’ financial literacy offerings. Research is based on a study of consumers ages 18-72.
Digital Payments and Lifestyles in a Post-Vaccine World
Background: The May 2021 report provides insights into how consumers plan to navigate in a post-vaccine world. Several lifestyle and financial topics are explored, including the use of P2P services to send and receive money, increase usage of digital banking apps, the likelihood to travel and attend social gatherings, gifting, paying for children's activities, and the ability to identify a scam. Research is based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-72.
Financial Literacy and Confidence
Background: This study unveils key findings in consumer behavior around financial literacy, specifically a break down in generational habits. The report highlights where consumers are gaining their financial knowledge, scams, and what preventive measures consumers are taking to protect and educate themselves.
A Glimpse of What to Expect… Consumers and Their Finances 2021
Background: The January 2021 report provides insights into several financial topics impacting consumers across generations, based on a tracking study of consumers ages 18-72. From financial fitness to leveraging digital banking in a pandemic, learn more about consumer sentiments at the start of 2021.
Holidays 2020 Consumer Behaviors, Winter 2020
Background: Winter 2020,the Consumer Payment Behaviors Report details the impact the COVID crisis has had on consumers’—ages 18-72—financial and digital behaviors, which are impacting their spending (tipping, donations, gift giving, monetary assistance, etc.) and shopping habits. Key findings include: Consumers appear to be changing their holiday planning due to the crisis, with many scaling down or postponing celebrations. Nearly half of consumers indicate their holiday budgets will be smaller this year compared to last. The majority of consumers indicate they will spend any cash received this holiday season on needs (bills and food) and contributions to savings. Nearly four in ten consumers are planning to donate money to an organization or friend in need. Concern over the risk of being targeted by financial scams or fraud continues to increase steadily throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Financial Literacy & Interpersonal Payment Behavior, October 2020
Background: Since the beginning, the COVID crisis has impacted many consumers and most express concern about the future. More than four in ten respondents have experienced a decrease in household income since the beginning, with lower-income households impacted most heavily. The crisis is also spurring the adoption of online banking and financial services, with 17% of respondents indicating they have either started using or plan to start using mobile deposit, and twenty percent started or planned to begin using P2P services. Living situations are also changing; more than two-thirds of GenZ and one-quarter of Millennials have either moved in with someone else or had someone move in with them. Financial literacy continues to be necessary, with all age cohorts expressing a high level of interest in improving their financial literacy. Most age cohorts feel their generations are the most financially literate, but most GenZ consumers think their generation is least financially literate.
Consumer Payment Behaviors, September 2020
Background: September 2020, the Consumer Payment Behaviors Report details the impact the COVID crisis has had on consumers’—ages 18-72—financial and digital behaviors, which are impacting their spending (tipping, donations, gift giving, monetary assistance, etc.) and shopping habits. For example. more than four in ten respondents indicate lower overall household spending since the beginning of the crisis. The crisis seems to also be spurring adoption of online banking and financial services. Seventeen percent of respondents indicated they have either started using, or plan to start using, mobile deposit and twenty percent started or plan to start using P2P services.
Gifting Study Report, December 2019
Background: The 2019 Holiday Survey details gift-giving desires and trends this season. At the top of the list for 2019 are group gifting and gifting money. According to the latest Zelle® data, family and friends are most likely to come together and gift memorable experiences and opportunities this holiday season - over four out of five consumers (81%) have split the cost of a gift with someone else. In this year’s survey, 65% of individuals stated they prefer the gift of money to pay for experiences, bills, or personal spending.
Weddings and Gifts, 2019
Background: "In today's modern world, weddings - and the traditions around them - are changing and evolving. Wedding etiquette has shifted along with the changing times in order to meet the needs of today's digitally savvy couples. I recommend using Zelle® because it’s a fast, safe and easy way for the couple, the family, the guests and the bridal party to send and receive funds associated with everything from gifting and group travel to pre-wedding events - turning what used to be a hassle (and an etiquette headache!) into happiness for the couple on their big day and beyond." – Elaine Swann, Etiquette Expert
Digital Payments Adoption Study, March 2019
Background: While person-to-person (P2P) payments are popular among all generations, study results found that Generation X and Boomers are driving broader adoption of P2P. A survey of more than 1,500 U.S consumers found that 50% of first time P2P users are aged 45 and older, with growing confidence and trust in digital payments being a strong driver of trial and usage.
Holiday Survey, November 2018
Background: More than 500 U.S. online consumers participated in a digital survey focused on consumer preferences around holiday gifting and money matters. The national survey found that nearly 50% of those surveyed plan to give money this holiday season, while the majority (58%) prefer to receive money as a gift.
Digital Payments Adoption Study, July 2018
Background: The study found that adoption and usage of digital person-to-person (P2P) payments are high among all generations, with consumers pointing to trust in friends and family and trust in their financial institutions as the primary reasons for engaging in a digital payment. Boomers ranked trust in financial institutions as the most important influence on engaging in a digital payment, while Millennials and Generation X ranked recommendations from friends/family/peers as their primary influence.