Americans seem to be changing their relationship with cash.
A recent survey reveals that reliance on cash is diminishing, with 42% of US adults indicating they don’t use cash for transactions during a typical week. This is quite the shift from 2015, when only 24% reported the same—essentially a 75% increase in just over ten years.
Conversely, just 12% of respondents claimed they used cash nearly exclusively for weekly purchases, representing a 50% decrease from the 24% who favored cash in 2015, according to findings from the Pew Research Center.
Interestingly, younger adults are leaning more towards cashless transactions. About 51% of those under 30 say they never use cash. This rate drops somewhat to 46% for the 30-49 age group and further to 37% among those aged 50-64. Notably, only 33% of individuals aged 65 and older claim to avoid cash entirely.
Income levels also play a significant role in these trends. Higher-income households—those earning $100,000 or more—lead the charge towards cashlessness, with 58% reporting they never rely on cash for their regular spending. In contrast, about a quarter of those with annual incomes below $30,000 still use cash for all or nearly all of their purchases.
Interestingly, despite the decline in cash usage, almost half of Americans (46%) admit to carrying physical cash most of the time. Yet, 26% of these cash carriers acknowledge they don’t actually use it for everyday transactions.
As the trend away from cash continues, the US government phased out the penny in 2025 after production was halted by President Trump. There are even whispers that the nickel may follow suit.
This survey was conducted among US adults between May 26 and June 1, 2026.
