Cash usage among U.S. adults dropped to 12% since 2015

Cash is becoming a less common way for Americans to pay for everyday purchases.A 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that just 12% of U.S. adults use cash for all or nearly all their purchases in a typical week, down from 24% in 2015. Meanwhile, 42% said they make no cash purchases in a typical week.The shift toward cashless payments also differs by income. Pew found that 58% of people in households earning at least $100,000 make no cash purchases during a typical week, compared with 24% of those earning less than $30,000.Despite the decline, cash has not disappeared. Another 46% of Americans said they still use cash for some purchases. The growing shift toward credit cards and other cashless payment methods has sparked debate about whether businesses should continue accepting cash, especially for customers who may lack access to other payment options.Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.