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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Business
Akshay Puri

Record 401(k) Withdrawals: How Rising Costs Are Forcing Americans to Use Retirement Savings

Record numbers of Americans withdraw from 401(k)s to cover emergencies as costs rise, revealing cracks in retirement security and savings habits.

A record-breaking number of Americans are treating their retirement accounts as emergency piggy banks rather than long-term safety nets.

According to the Vanguard 2026 'How America Saves' report, 6% of 401(k) participants initiated hardship withdrawals in 2025, a significant jump from 5% the previous year and the highest level ever documented.

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