67% of Americans now fear outliving their savings more than death, driven by inflation and declining personal savings rates.
A record 67% of Americans report greater fear of outliving their money than death, up from 57% in 2022, according to a 2026 retirement study. Gen X leads this concern at 73%, with anxiety widespread across all adult age groups.
The personal savings rate collapsed to 3.7% in Q1 2026 from 6.2% in Q1 2024, eroding financial cushions despite rising wages. Inflation pressures persist, with PCE at 3.8% year-over-year in April 2026 and energy prices up 18.3%.
Consumer sentiment has deteriorated, with the University of Michigan index falling to 49.8 in April 2026, a level typically associated with recessions. Nearly half of Americans lack a written financial plan, and 77% say guaranteed income would ease retirement fears.