Americans now believe they need about $1.46 million to retire comfortably, according to the 2026 Planning and Progress Study by Northwestern Mutual, highlighting how inflation and longer life expectancy are reshaping retirement plans across the United States.
The figure marks an increase of roughly $200,000 from last year's estimate of $1.26 million. The rising target reflects growing concern about the long-term impact of inflation, future retirement income, and the possibility of living longer than previous generations.
