WASHINGTON – October 30, 2026 -- Fifty-seven percent of U.S. consumers report a negative consequence for merchants that do not accept their preferred payment method, according to the seventh annual Consumer Holiday Spending Study from the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) and TSG (The Strawhecker Group). The study of 1,099 U.S. consumers, conducted September 8-13, 2026, also found that 44% feel more financially stressed than last year, up from 27% in 2025.