Mariah Warner, PhD

My work at PYMNTS

My work at PYMNTS

As a Senior Research Manager at PYMNTS, I lead large-scale, end-to-end research projects on how people and businesses navigate the digital economy — from payments and financial technologies to eCommerce, banking, and beyond.

I manage survey-based research from design to final deliverables, working closely with clients to shape their research questions, craft effective surveys, and translate data into meaningful insights. I also supervise a team of junior analysts and collaborate with writers and designers to turn complex findings into compelling narratives for wide audiences — including C-suite executives and major industry leaders.

My work at PYMNTS spans two key areas:

1. Client-Sponsored Research

I partner with global leaders in fintech, payments, and commerce to produce custom research that helps answer their most pressing questions. These projects often inform thought leadership and marketing strategy, and include everything from survey design to analysis, data visualization, and executive presentations.

2. Proprietary Benchmark Studies

In addition to client work, I independently manage several of PYMNTS’ flagship recurring studies — including our Paycheck-to-Paycheck series and Generational Pulse tracker. These monthly and quarterly benchmarks offer a consistent, data-driven view into consumer behavior, financial well-being, and broader economic trends. They’re designed not only to explain what’s happening in the economy, but to help shape how the industry thinks about and responds to change.

Below, you’ll find a selection of reports I’ve worked on, representing just some of the data-driven projects I’ve led or contributed to at PYMNTS. I try to keep this list updated regularly, though it’s not exhaustive—there’s always more data work happening behind the scenes.

In addition to the flagship reports featured here, my work also includes:

Special Reports – Creating tailored analyses and quick-turnaround reports to answer specific client or internal questions.

Editorial Support – Providing data insights and visualizations that support PYMNTS’ editorial team in developing articles, thought leadership, and industry commentary.

Client-Sponsored Projects

Banyan

Beyond Points and Perks: How Relevant Benefits Drive Cardholder Engagement

Elan

Digital Payments Evolution: Virtual Cards Poised to Take Off

i2c

SMB Growth Monitor: How Firms Use and Choose Credit Cards
The Credit Economy: Top-of-Wallet Credit Cards

PYMNTS Proprietary Benchmark Studies

Paycheck-to-Paycheck

July 2025: The Adjustable-Rate Reckoning: How Homeownership Is Pushing Millions Paycheck to Paycheck
June 2025: Consumers Say They Want Budgeting Tools but Aren’t Using Them
May 2025: Do the (Side) Hustle: Four in 10 US Consumers Seize the Opportunity to Earn More Income
April 2025: Navigating the Shifting Sands of Consumer Spending Amid Rising Prices and New Tariffs
March 2025: The Two Money Mindsets Shaping How Consumers Manage Their Finances
February 2025: The Price of Time: When Consumers Opt for Convenience
January 2025: Struggling Consumers Go to Short-Term Strategies to Manage Higher Expenses

Generational Pulse

July 2025: Genearation AI: Why Gen Z Bets Big and Boomers Hold Back
June 2025: Three in 10 Gen Zers and Millennials Use Telehealth. But Paying the Doctor is Full of Friction
April 2025: Consumers Go Mobile-First on Travel Purchases
March 2025: Influencers May Not Be So Influential in Driving Purchases
January 2025: Zillennials' Transportation Choices May Have Future Down Payments in Mind
December 2024: How Zillennials' Financial Literacy Drives Their Financial Confidence

Special Reports

The Gen Z Decoder Ring
Unmasking the Drivers of Paycheck-to-Paycheck Living
How Consumers Decide Which Credit Card to Pay With
10 Ways Inflation and Rising Costs Defined Financial Realities This Year

Editorial Support

Is Student Loan Debt a Ladder Up or a Weight Down?
What Pinball Tells Us About Spending in the Post-Tariff World
Who Is the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Consumer in America?
New Data Shows Women Decide When and How to Cut Back