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CEO of buy now, pay later giant Affirm says high gas prices are hitting U.S. shoppers

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Why This Matters

The rise in gas prices is impacting U.S. consumers' spending habits, which in turn affects buy now, pay later services like Affirm. As consumers become more cautious with their budgets, demand for flexible payment options increases, highlighting the importance of such services in navigating inflationary pressures. This trend underscores the need for fintech companies to adapt to changing economic conditions and consumer behavior.

Key Takeaways

Affirm Holdings stock closed nearly unchanged on Friday after the buy now, pay later firm reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and CEO Max Levchin said high gas prices are weighing on shoppers.

"The U.S. consumer undoubtedly sees the higher gas prices, so can't, can't ignore that," Levchin told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "They're also coming to us to help manage those prices across all the various inflationary points."

The national average price for gas was at $4.09 per gallon as of Friday, according to AAA data. That is down from May, when gas climbed above $4.50, but is still much higher than pre-Iran war levels.

The national average was last below $3 on March 2.

"In times of inflation, we see more demand because folks are budgeting," Levchin told CNBC. "They're more thoughtful about how they want to use the money, and we're there to help."