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 househ

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.