About 1 in 4 US working adults 50 and older expect to never retire, AARP study finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — About one-quarter of U.S.adults age 50 and older who are not yet retired say they expect to never retire and 70% are concerned about prices rising faster than their income, an AARP survey finds.About 1 in 4 have no retirement savings, according to research released Wednesday by the organization that shows how a graying America is worrying more and more about how to make ends meet even as economists and policymakers say the U.S.

economy has all but achieved a soft landing after two years of record inflation.Everyday expenses and housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, are the biggest reasons why people are unable to save for retirement.The data will matter this election year as Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump are trying to win support from older Americans, who traditionally turn out in high numbers, with their policy proposals.The AARP’s study, based on interviews completed with more than 8,000 people in coordination with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, finds that one-third of older adults with credit card debt carry a balance of more than $10,000 and 12% have a balance of $20,000 or more.Additionally, 37% are worried about meeting basic living costs such as food and housing.“Far too many people lack access to retirement savings options and this, coupled with higher prices, is making it increasingly hard for people to choose when to retire,” said Indira Venkateswaran, AARP’s senior vice president of research.

“Everyday expenses continue to be the top barrier to saving more for retirement, and some older Americans say that they never expect to retire.”The share of people 50 and older who say they do not expect to retire has remained steady.It was 23% in January 2022 and 24% that July, according to the study, which is conducted twice a year“We are seeing an expansion of older workers staying in the workforce,” said David John, senior strategic policy advisor at the AARP Pu...