This is just a tiny glimpse of the data available to CivicScience clients. Discover more data.
1. More than a quarter of Buy Now, Pay Later users say they’ve delayed a repayment in the past 30 days.
According to recent reports, there’s a rising concern about the percentage of people who default to Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payments. New CivicScience data highlight that postponing Buy Now, Pay Later payments is a frequent experience for many users. Over the past month, 27% of U.S. adults who’ve used BNPL delayed or rescheduled a payment, with an additional 28% having done so previously. Younger adults and those with lower incomes tend to report these delays more often, but the trend isn’t limited to them—10% of adults 65 and older and 8% of households earning over $150K have also reported recent payment delays. This makes for a worrying trend, given BNPL usage appears likely to grow in the months ahead.
Let us Know: Do you personally use any buy now, pay later services?
2. Support for monthly heritage/cultural observances like Pride Month grows, while consumers increasingly believe brands should work to address diversity and inclusion internally.
As the second week of Pride Month begins, CivicScience revisited consumer opinion about brands participating in monthly heritage/cultural observances like Black History Month and Pride Month. The data finds 40% of U.S. adults report they are in favor of brands celebrating these events, an increase of five percentage points since 2024. On the other hand, the percentage of those against it fell from 31% to 28%, while the remaining 32% are neutral.
When it comes to what consumers rank as the most authentic way for brands to support Pride Month, taking meaningful steps to improve internal diversity and inclusion has grown over the last year. This trend aligns with broader public sentiment, as CivicScience data from earlier this year shows a plurality of Americans continue to support DEI initiatives amid shifting cultural attitudes.
Interest in implementing other actions, such as adopting year-round strategies beyond Pride Month and engaging with LGBTQIA+ organizations and causes, has also increased since 2024 (excluding none of the above).
Use this Data: CivicScience clients use real-time data like this to stay ahead of shifting consumer expectations and build engagement strategies that deepen loyalty and win new consumers.
3. Non-traditional QSR menu items prove enticing to slightly more than half of respondents.
Taco Bell’s chicken nuggets were a viral success when they debuted in December 2024, enough so that the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chain brought them back six weeks ago. According to new CivicScience polling data, consumers are generally supportive of fast-food restaurants branching out of their comfort zones, so to speak – 52% of U.S. adults believe they are at least ‘somewhat’ likely to order non-traditional items (like Taco Bell chicken nuggets or McDonald’s pizza for example) when they are offered at QSRs. While this interest overwhelmingly skews younger, particularly among Gen Z aged 18-29, even one-quarter of respondents aged 65+ would be at least ‘somewhat’ likely to try non-traditional QSR offerings.
While younger consumers may be leading the charge in interest, the data also reveal a broader trend overall: 76% of respondents who are ‘very’ likely to try non-traditional QSR items report that social media influences the food they buy at least ‘a little,’ suggesting social media is a valuable tool in revving up interest for items like these.
Take our Poll: Will you try Taco Bell’s chicken nuggets?
