A record share of American workers are raiding their retirement pots to survive a mounting cost-of-living crisis, despite surging stock market balances.
Vanguard Group's 'How America Saves 2026' report reveals that 6% of 401(k) participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025, the highest level ever recorded. This figure has tripled from the 2% seen before the pandemic, marking the sixth consecutive year of rising 'leakage' from US retirement plans.
