This page lists the three most recent items in each category with a link to past research in each category. These files are in pdf format and require Adobe Reader for viewing and printing.

Issue Briefs -- Updated August 13, 2010

August 2010 #345 - "What Do We Really Know About Consumer-Driven Health Plans?"

July 2010 #344 - "The EBRI Retirement Readiness Rating:Retirement Income Preparation and Future Prospects"

June 2010 #343 - "Health SAvings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements: Assets, Account Balances, and Rollovers, 2006-2009"

Past EBRI Issue Briefs on retirement and savings

EBRI Notes -- Updated August 13, 2010

August 2010 - "EBRI's Spring Policy Forum: Retirement Income Adequacy--How Big Is the Gap and How Might the Market Respond?"

July 2010 - "Target-Date Fund Use Over Time"

June 2010 - "Examination of the Short-term Impact of the COBRA Premium Subsidy and Characteristics of the COBRA Population"

Past EBRI Notes articles on retirement and savings

Fast Facts from EBRI -- Updated July 28, 2010

July 27, 2010 - "Auto-Enrollment Helping to Reduce Those "At Risk" of Running Short of Money in Retirement"

July 22, 2010 - "What Are the Prospects You Will Run Short of Money in Retirement?"

July 20, 2010 - "How Eligibility in a 401(k)-Type Plan Can Help Gen-Xers Avoid Running Short of Money in Retirement"

Past Fast Facts from EBRI on retirement and savings

EBRI Surveys -- Updated April 16, 2010

March 2010 - The 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey—the 20th annual wave of this survey—finds that the record-low confidence levels measured during the past two years of economic decline appear to have bottomed out. The percentage of workers very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement has stabilized at 16 percent, which is statistically equivalent to the 20-year low of 13 percent measured in 2009. Retiree confidence about having a financially secure retirement has also stabilized, with 19 percent saying now they are very confident (statistically equivalent to the 20 percent measured in 2009).

December 2009 - Findings from the 2009 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey"-- This Issue Brief presents findings from the 2009 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey, which provides nationally representative data regarding the growth of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), and the impact of these plans and consumer engagement more generally on the behavior and attitudes of adults with private health insurance coverage. Findings from this survey are compared with four earlier annual surveys.

Additional information is at EBRI/MGA Consumer engagement in Health Care Survey.

July 2009 - "The 2009 Health Confidence Survey: Public Opinion on Health Care Reform Varies; Strong Support for Insurance Market Reform and Public Plan Option, Mixed Response to Tax Cap" -- Findings from the 2009 Health Confidence Survey—the 12th annual HCS—indicate that Americans have already formed strong opinions regarding various aspects of health reform, even before details have been released regarding various key factors. These issues include health insurance market reform, the availability of a public plan option, mandates on employers and individuals, subsidized coverage for the low-income population, changes to the tax treatment of job-based health benefits, and regulatory oversight of health care. These opinions may change as details surface, especially as they concern financing options. In the absence of such details, the 2009 HCS finds generally strong support for the concepts of health reform options that are currently on the table.

Additional information is at 2009 Health Confidence Survey.

Past EBRI Surveys on retirement and savings

Databook -- see chapter for when last updated.

Chapter 6 -- Income Statistics of the Population Ages 55 and Over - Data is presented here on the following: percentage of the older population in poverty; real median income of the older population by gender; median and mean income of the population by education, marital status and race; real median income by age and source of income; comparison of the measurement of retirement income between the Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic (March) Supplement and the National Income and Product Accounts of the United States. The end of the chapter contains a reference section to other EBRI research on income statistics of the population ages 55 and over in a question and answer format.

Chapter 7 -- Sources of Income for Persons Ages 55 and Over - Data is presented here on the following: percentage distribution of population and income by detailed income source, mean income, and median income; aged income from private sector and public sector defined benefit plans; private sector and public sector defined benefit plans by age of recipient; median income from major sources, married couples and unmarried individuals aged 65 and over; percentage of individuals aged 55 and over with income from specified sources and percentage distribution of income from all sources by age; percentage of individuals aged 65 and over with income from specified sources and percentage distribution of income from all sources by income quintile. The end of the chapter contains a reference section to other EBRI research on sources of income for persons ages 55 and over in a question and answer format.

Chapter 8 -- Retirement Annuity and Employment-Based Pension Income - Data is presented here on the following: percentage receiving, median, and mean amount of retirement annuity and/or employment-based pension income recipiency. The data is presented for the following demographics: age, sex, industry, education, marital status, and income quintile. The end of the chapter contains a reference section to other EBRI research on retirement annuity and employment-based pension income in a question and answer format.

Chapter 9 -- U.S. Savings Rates - Data is presented on two government measurements of the personal savings rate in the United States, the National Income and Product Accounts of the United State and the Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States. The end of the chapter contains a reference section to other EBRI research on personal savings in a question and answer format.

Chapter 10 -- Aggregate Trends in Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Sponsorship, Participation, and Vesting - Data in this chapter is drawn from four sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey; U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefit Security Administration, Tabulations off the Form 5500; U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, Employee Benefit Supplement and Survey of Income and Program Participation ; U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic (or March) Supplement. The end of the chapter contains a reference section to other EBRI research on personal savings in a question and answer format.