New EBRI Retirement Numbers

The Employee Benefit Research Institute is out with a new study of retirement savings.  The picture, as you might imagine, is bleak.  The Wall Street Journal has a write up.

Key point:

Fifty-seven percent of U.S. workers surveyed reported less than $25,000 in total household savings and investments excluding their homes, according to a report to be released Tuesday by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Only 49% reported having so little money saved in 2008.

Lawmakers and regulators in Washington, DC, will be wrestling with a number of policy areas that involve retirement in the next year. The EBRI survey shows there is a crisis. Washington must help, not make it worse.