In May, Federal Reserve Financial Services’ FedCash Services released the annual Diary of Consumer Payment Choice report from its ongoing research into the payment habits of U.S. consumers. The 2025 findings from this nationally representative survey showed that amid increasing digitalization of payments, consumers continue to use cash and keep it handy.
The Federal Reserve conducts the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice survey every year to understand U.S. consumers’ payment behavior, preferences and how consumer payments change from one year to the next. The latest survey was conducted in October 2024. Understanding the evolving role of cash in the U.S. economy through the Diary studies helps ensure FedCash Services is fulfilling its mission of meeting cash demand in times of both normalcy and stress, maintaining the public’s confidence in U.S. currency, and providing ready access to cash.