"After a decade of tracking U.S. payment habits, the Federal Reserve's latest research from the 2026 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice reveals notable consistency in consumer payment behavior, even as technology has rapidly evolved. Consumers made an average of 47 payments per month in 2025, similar to 2024 levels. The total number of payments made with cards — both debit and credit — remained consistent with the previous year. All other payment instruments and their respective shares also held steady."