A USAA Federal Savings Bank survey shows inf is prompting more Americans to use
credit-card reward points for everyday essentials. In a sample of just over
1,000 respondents, more than 35% said they redeem card rewards for daily
spending and 79% said they had used points at least once in the past six months.
The survey notes groceries are up more than 6% since mid-2023 and gasoline about
$0.30/gal; real wages have risen roughly 1.4% annually over the same period.
USAA president Moran said households are prioritizing practicality, shifting
spending from non-urgent items such as appliances and furniture toward groceries
and fuel, and using rewards to stretch budgets.
