Retirement Confidence Falls to 64 Percent as Workers Worry About Housing and Healthcare Costs

The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey found that 64 percent of Americans feel confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement, a decrease from the previous year.

The survey, conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research, found that worker confidence dropped six percentage points to 61 percent. Retiree confidence fell five percentage points to 73 percent.

Rising housing costs affected seven out of ten workers' ability to save for retirement. Nearly six out of ten workers said healthcare expenses were cutting into their retirement contributions. Fewer than three out of five workers reported having sufficient savings for emergency expenses, down from 64 percent in 2025.

Four out of five workers and seven out of ten retirees said they were concerned about potential government changes to the U.S. retirement system, including possible adjustments to Social Security.

The survey results come as inflation returned to 3 percent territory in early 2026, driven largely by energy prices following U.S.-led military action against Iran. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates at 3.5 to 3.75 percent at its March meeting, making rate cuts less certain.

Financial advisors recommend several steps for workers concerned about retirement readiness. These include reviewing credit, managing high-interest debt, ensuring they receive their full employer 401(k) match, and understanding common retirement planning mistakes.

A new rule took effect in 2026 requiring that 401(k) catch-up contributions for high earners aged 50 and older be deposited into a Roth account. The Treasury Department also set the Series I bond rate at 4.26 percent through October 2026, offering a relatively safe savings option amid higher inflation.