Expected Retirement Age in U.S. Up to 67 (Gallup)

Results from Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance survey found that the average nonretired American expects to retire at age 67, up from 63 in 2002 and 60 in 1996. The age at which retirees actually retired has increased steadily from age 57 in 1991 to age 60 today. Americans currently under the age of 40 said they expect to retire at age 65, while those 40 and older expect to retire at age 68. There’s good news. A new low of 38% of nonretirees said they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, down from 42% a year ago and 59% in 2002. Americans might regain their optimism as the economy picks up, but the stock crash and housing crash early and late in the 2000s, and the future-health of the Social Security and Medicare programs, could have permanently shifted Americans’ outlook about their retirement.