Dominicans navigated a stable financial outlook with cautious optimism during the fourth quarter of 2025. Nearly three in four (73%) felt optimistic about their financial prospects for the next 12 months, and nearly four in five (79%) expected income growth in the coming year.
These were some of the findings of the Study Consumer Pulse Q4 2025 by TransUnion, which explores how consumers’ personal finances have changed and what they expect going forward.
The study also showed that inflation continues to dominate the financial concerns of Dominicans (57%), along with anxiety related to job stability (47%), although both indicators were slightly below 2024 levels, when they reached 59% and 52%, respectively.
“The Dominican Republic continues to show resilience, supported by solid fundamentals, such as robust tourism, increasing remittances and prudent monetary policy said Danilda Almanzar, general manager of TransUnion for the Dominican Republic. “This environment has boosted the optimism of Dominicans, despite concerns about inflation and job security. It is also clear that access to credit and active financial management are essential to strengthen consumer confidence.”
Spending and saving patterns reflect cautious confidence
Behavioral patterns reflected cautious confidence. More consumers reduced their discretionary spending (54%, up two percentage points from Q4 2024), accelerated debt repayment (31%, up eight percentage points) and strengthened their emergency savings (21%, up three percentage points).
Purchasing behaviors also showed how Dominicans adapted to the current economic environment: 53% looked for discounts more frequently, 34% chose lower-cost stores, 26% opted for generic brands and 21% took advantage of credit card offers. Looking ahead, 39% expect to reduce discretionary spending (up two percentage points from Q4 2024) and 30% plan to reduce high-value purchases (up four percentage points).
Access to credit remains key to financial confidence
Access to credit continued to be a pillar of financial confidence, as almost all respondents (97%) rated it as very or moderately important (96% last year). More Dominicans believe they have sufficient access to credit: 42% indicated this, which represents an increase of 13 percentage points compared to the previous year.
However, although they consider they have access to credit, consumers who plan to apply for or refinance credit in the next 12 months decreased to 44%, eight percentage points less than a year ago, reflecting a more conservative approach to debt.
Among those planning to apply for credit in the next 12 months, 44% indicated that their top choice would be a personal loan, and more than a third of consumers (35%) said they would refinance their existing personal credit. Just over a fifth of consumers (22%) indicated they plan to open a new credit card, up from nearly a quarter (24%) the previous year.
Consumers seek greater control over their financial health
Credit monitoring gained traction as consumers sought greater control over their financial health. Those not monitoring their credit activity decreased to 31% from 34% a year earlier, while daily checks increased one percentage point to 14%.
Monthly monitoring remained stable at 15% and annual reviews increased to 8% (up two percentage points), signaling a gradual improvement in the level of participation.
Nearly seven in ten (68%) rated credit monitoring as very or extremely important (up five percentage points from 2024), and 93% rated it as important overall (94% previously). Protection against fraud (38%, four percentage points more than in 2024) and score improvement (40%, one percentage point more) were the main reasons for reviewing credit reports.
Identity threats remain a concern
Concern about threats to identity remained high and persistent. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents (79%) were very or somewhat concerned about sharing their personal information online. Identity theft (43%) and credit card fraud (42%) ranked as the top cyber fears, while concerns about data breaches moderated slightly to 34%. Despite this slight improvement, general anxiety regarding digital security continues to reinforce the importance of generating trust and transparency on the part of financial institutions.
What is Consumer Pulse?
TransUnion’s quarterly survey, conducted online by third-party research provider Dynata among 373 consumers ages 18 and older in the Dominican Republic between September 15 and October 9, 2025, explored how consumers’ personal finances have changed and what changes they expect moving forward. The study measures variations in consumer perspectives and behaviors based on income dynamics, debt and identity theft. The analyzes and findings give consumers a voice and guide the decision-making of entities seeking to create economic opportunities for consumers. Some percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses being accepted.
About TransUnion
TransUnion is a global information and insights company, with more than 13,000 employees operating in more than 30 countries, including the Dominican Republic. We enable trust by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this by providing actionable insights into consumers, managed responsibly.
Through our acquisitions and investments in technology, we have developed innovative solutions in areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good®, driving economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.
