Klarna reports U.S. holiday spending is stretching well beyond classic retail this year, with consumers using its flexible payments to fund nights out, trips, and even car repairs alongside gifts.
Triple-digit growth beyond traditional gifts
From December 1 to December 22, 2025, spending through Klarna in entertainment increased by 130% year over year, experiences rose 115%, and automotive products, including maintenance and repairs, climbed 100% compared to the same period last year.
Klarna frames these spikes as evidence of “strong consumer demand and the continued adoption of Klarna’s flexible payment options during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.” The data suggests that shoppers are comfortable using instalments not only for products, but also for experiential and high-value practical purchases, such as tickets and vehicle maintenance.
By highlighting entertainment, experiences, and automotive as triple-digit growth categories, Klarna positions itself as a payment layer that fits both lifestyle splurges…
and everyday resilience—helping users fund memories and manage essential costs in the same ecosystem. Footwear tops clicks heading into Christmas In more traditional retail, Klarna also spotlights what U.S.
shoppers clicked on most in the final run-up to Christmas, analysing online and in-app behavior between December 19–22, 2025, versus December 20–23, 2024. Footwear emerged as the most-clicked category, led by “timeless classics” such as the Nike Air Force 1 ’07, UGG Lowmel, Adidas Samba OG, and classic Jordan styles.
Children’s shoes ranked among the top three most-clicked categories, driven by UGG Kid’s Lowmel silhouettes and youth-sized Nike staples.
This mix highlights how families continue to prioritize footwear that feels both trend-aware and practical—often using Klarna’s pay-later tools to spread out these purchases over the holidays. Headphones, gaming, and accessories trends Headphones were the second most-clicked category overall, driven by strong interest in Apple AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), as well as premium noise-canceling models from Sony and Bose…
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