Personal Savings and Emergency Fund Statistics 2026
This page collects 52 figures on how much households save and how well they can absorb a shock: national saving rates, emergency fund coverage, who has a cushion and who does not, what savings accounts and deposits pay, and how often people dip into retirement money early. Most figures describe the United States, with comparison data for the UK, the euro area, Canada and Australia. Sources include the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, the Office for National Statistics, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Bank of England, the FCA, the FINRA Foundation, Pew Research Center, EBRI, Vanguard and the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Figures span 2023 to 2026, and each one is labeled with the year it describes.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 8, 2026 · 52 numbers drawn from 16 publishers and reports
Short answer
Americans save a small share of their income and about half lack a three-month emergency fund: BEA put the U.S. personal saving rate at 3.8% in September 2026, and the Federal Reserve found 55% of adults had three months of expenses in a rainy day fund in 2025, while 63% could cover a $400 expense with cash. Savings accounts pay little on average, 0.38% nationally in the FDIC's August 2026 data, and saving rates are much higher in Europe, at 14.2% in the euro area (Eurostat) and 8.8% in the UK (ONS).
Headline numbers
- 3.8%The U.S. personal saving rate was 3.8% of disposable personal income in September 2026, according to BEA.U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- 55%55% of U.S. adults had set aside three months of expenses in an emergency or rainy day fund in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve's SHED survey.Federal Reserve Board
- 63%63% of U.S. adults said they would cover a $400 emergency expense entirely with cash, savings or a credit card paid off in full in 2025.Federal Reserve Board
- 46%46% of U.S. adults had set aside enough to cover three months of living expenses in 2024, down from 53% in 2021, according to the FINRA Foundation.FINRA Investor Education Foundation
- 75%75% of U.S. adults with family income of $100,000 or more had three months of emergency savings in 2025, compared with 21% of those earning under $25,000.Federal Reserve Board
- 0.38%The national average rate on U.S. savings accounts was 0.38% in the FDIC's August 2026 update.Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- 14.2%The euro area household saving rate fell to 14.2% in the second quarter of 2026, from 14.4% in the first quarter, according to Eurostat.Eurostat
- 6%6% of Vanguard plan participants allowed to take hardship withdrawals took at least one in 2025, up from 5% in 2024.Vanguard
Reading the numbers
The U.S. personal saving rate has fallen through 2026. BEA reported 4.5% in July and 3.8% in September, when households saved $911.1 billion at an annual rate. National accounts in other rich economies show higher rates: Eurostat put the euro area at 14.2% in the second quarter of 2026, ONS put the UK at 8.8%, ABS put Australia at 6.5% and Statistics Canada put Canada at 3.7%. Definitions differ, so the levels are not strictly comparable, but the direction in the U.S. is clear.
Emergency savings have stalled rather than collapsed. The Federal Reserve's 2025 SHED survey found 55% of adults had three months of expenses set aside, the same as 2024 and below the 59% peak in 2021. The FINRA Foundation's 2024 study found a lower 46%, down from 53% in 2021, and Pew found 53% of adults in August 2026 without a three-month fund. On the shorter $400 test, 63% would pay with cash or its equivalent and 12% could not pay at all.
Income decides who has a cushion. Three-month savings run from 21% of adults with family income under $25,000 to 75% of those with $100,000 or more in the Federal Reserve data, and only 13% of people who never have money left over at month end have such savings. In the UK, the FCA counts one in ten adults with no cash savings and another 21% with less than £1,000.
The average savings account pays little. The FDIC's national rate for savings was 0.38% in August 2026 and 0.63% for money market accounts, against 1.71% for 12-month CDs. When savings run short, retirement accounts take the strain: Vanguard reports 6% of eligible participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025, up from 2% in 2020, and 14% of U.S. non-retirees borrowed from, cashed out or cut contributions to retirement accounts, according to the Federal Reserve.
The U.S. personal saving rate
- 1.
The U.S. personal saving rate was 3.8% of disposable personal income in September 2026, according to BEA.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Personal saving was $911.1 billion, and the personal saving rate —personal saving as a percentage of DPI—was 3.8 percent.
- 2.
U.S. households saved $911.1 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in September 2026.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Personal saving was $911.1 billion, and the personal saving rate —personal saving as a percentage of DPI—was 3.8 percent.
- 3.
Median U.S. household checking and savings balances were 23% above 2019 levels in May 2025, according to the JPMorgan Chase Institute.
JPMorgan Chase Institute, Household Finances Pulse: Through May 2025 (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In early 2025, median household bank balances were up 23 percent relative to pre-pandemic balances, but that is lower than the 40 percent we would have expected based on historical trends.
- 4.
Based on historical trends, the JPMorgan Chase Institute would have expected median bank balances to be about 40% above 2019 levels by early 2025.
JPMorgan Chase Institute, Household Finances Pulse: Through May 2025 (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In early 2025, median household bank balances were up 23 percent relative to pre-pandemic balances, but that is lower than the 40 percent we would have expected based on historical trends.
- 5.
Before the pandemic, U.S. household bank balances grew about 6.9% a year in JPMorgan Chase Institute data.
JPMorgan Chase Institute, Household Finances Pulse: Through May 2025 (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In historical data, household bank balances have an annual growth rate of 6.9 percent.
- 6.
Total household cash reserves, including CDs and brokerage cash, grew about 3% to 5% year over year in 2025, according to the JPMorgan Chase Institute.
JPMorgan Chase Institute, Household Finances Pulse: Through May 2025 (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Total cash reserves (bank accounts plus CDs, brokerages, etc.) show a different picture and have returned to positive growth, rising by about 3 to 5 percent year over year in 2025.
Chart
U.S. personal saving rate by month, 2026
Personal saving as a share of disposable personal income, seasonally adjusted, as published October 29, 2026.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Saving Rate
Household saving rates in other countries
- 7.
The UK household saving ratio was 8.8% in the second quarter of 2026, up 0.2 percentage points, according to ONS.
Office for National Statistics, GDP quarterly national accounts, UK: April to June 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The household saving ratio increased by 0.2 percentage points to 8.8% in Quarter 2 2026, driven by a rise in the contribution of non-pension saving.
- 8.
Non-pension saving made up 4.5% of UK household income in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.8% the quarter before.
Office for National Statistics, GDP quarterly national accounts, UK: April to June 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
This was driven by non-pension saving, which increased to 4.5%, up from 3.8% (Figure 12).
- 9.
Pension saving contributed 4.3 percentage points to the UK saving ratio in the second quarter of 2026, down from 4.8 points.
Office for National Statistics, GDP quarterly national accounts, UK: April to June 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Pension saving contributed 4.3 percentage points to the saving ratio, down from 4.8 percentage points in the previous quarter.
- 10.
The euro area household saving rate fell to 14.2% in the second quarter of 2026, from 14.4% in the first quarter, according to Eurostat.
Eurostat, Household saving rate decreases to 14.2% in the euro area (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The household saving rate in the euro area decreased to 14.2% in the second quarter of 2026 (compared with 14.4% in the first quarter of 2026), which is explained by consumption increasing at a faster rate than gross disposable income (respectively +1.3% and +1.1%).
- 11.
The euro area household investment rate, mostly spending on housing, was 8.3% of disposable income in the second quarter of 2026.
Eurostat, Household saving rate decreases to 14.2% in the euro area (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
At the same time, the household investment rate in the euro area decreased from 8.4% to 8.3% in the second quarter of 2026, as gross fixed capital formation increased at a slower rate than gross disposable income (respectively +0.5% and +1.1%).
- 12.
Across the whole EU, the household saving rate fell 0.3 percentage points in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 0.2 points in the euro area.
Eurostat, Household real income per capita slightly increases in both the euro area and the EU (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In the second quarter of 2026, the saving rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points (pp) in the euro area and by 0.3 pp in the EU , compared with the previous quarter.
- 13.
Canada's household saving rate was 3.7% in the second quarter of 2026, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada, National balance sheet and financial flow accounts and household income, second quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The household saving rate reached 3.7% in the second quarter of 2026 as growth in disposable income (+2.1%) outpaced nominal household spending (+1.7%).
- 14.
Canadian household disposable income rose 2.1% in the second quarter of 2026, faster than the 1.7% rise in household spending.
Statistics Canada, National balance sheet and financial flow accounts and household income, second quarter 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The household saving rate reached 3.7% in the second quarter of 2026 as growth in disposable income (+2.1%) outpaced nominal household spending (+1.7%).
- 15.
Australia's household saving to income ratio rose to 6.5% in the June quarter of 2026, from 6.4%, according to ABS.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, June 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Household saving to income ratio rose to 6.5% from 6.4%.
Emergency fund coverage
- 16.
55% of U.S. adults had set aside three months of expenses in an emergency or rainy day fund in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve's SHED survey.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 55 percent of adults said they had set aside money for three months of expenses in an emergency savings or "rainy day" fund—unchanged from 2024 but down from a high of 59 percent in 2021.
- 17.
The share of U.S. adults with a three-month rainy day fund peaked at 59% in 2021 in the Federal Reserve's survey.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 55 percent of adults said they had set aside money for three months of expenses in an emergency savings or "rainy day" fund—unchanged from 2024 but down from a high of 59 percent in 2021.
- 18.
63% of U.S. adults said they would cover a $400 emergency expense entirely with cash, savings or a credit card paid off in full in 2025.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
When faced with a hypothetical expense of $400, 63 percent of all adults said they would have covered it exclusively using cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement (referred to, altogether, as "cash or its equivalent").
- 19.
12% of U.S. adults said they could not pay an unexpected $400 expense by any means in 2025, down from 13% in 2024.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
However, 12 percent of all adults said they would be unable to pay the expense by any means ( table 25 ), down slightly from 13 percent in 2024.
- 20.
70% of U.S. adults said they could pay an expense of $500 or more using only their current savings in 2025.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The share who could pay an expense of $500 or more using only savings was 68 percent for the original version of the question versus 70 percent for the new version shown in the text, which is not a statistically significant difference.
- 21.
46% of U.S. adults had set aside enough to cover three months of living expenses in 2024, down from 53% in 2021, according to the FINRA Foundation.
FINRA Investor Education Foundation, FINRA Foundation Releases Sixth Wave of the National Financial Capability Study (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The percentage of U.S. adults who say they have set aside enough money to cover three months’ worth of living expenses in case of an emergency dropped to 46 percent from 53 percent in 2021.
- 22.
53% of U.S. adults said in August 2026 that they do not have emergency funds that would cover three months of expenses, according to Pew Research Center.
Pew Research Center, Many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
53% say they do not have emergency funds that would cover their expenses for three months.
- 23.
Fewer than 3 in 5 U.S. workers said in 2026 that they have enough savings to handle an emergency expense, down from 64% in 2025, according to EBRI.
Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey Finds Americans Less Confident About Retirement (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Fewer than 3 in 5 workers said they have enough savings to handle an emergency expense, down from 64% in 2025.
- 24.
About one in ten UK adults had no cash savings at all in 2024, according to the FCA's Financial Lives survey.
Financial Conduct Authority, More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that one in ten people have no cash savings at all, and another 21% have less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency.
- 25.
A further 21% of UK adults had less than £1,000 in savings to draw on in an emergency in 2024.
Financial Conduct Authority, More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that one in ten people have no cash savings at all, and another 21% have less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency.
Who has a savings cushion
- 26.
75% of U.S. adults with family income of $100,000 or more had three months of emergency savings in 2025, compared with 21% of those earning under $25,000.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Have savings to cover three months of expenses (by demographic characteristics) Characteristic Percent Family income Less than $25,000 21 $25,000–$49,999 39 $50,000–$99,999 55 $100,000 or more 75
- 27.
Only 13% of U.S. adults who never have money left over at the end of the month had three months of savings in 2025, against 86% of those who always do.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Eighty-six percent of adults who said they always had money left over at the end of the month said they had savings to cover three months of expenses, while 13 percent of those who never had money left over at the end of the month had such savings ( figure 25 ).
- 28.
54% of U.S. adults said in 2026 that they have not been able to save money for the future in the past year, according to Pew Research Center.
Pew Research Center, Many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
And 54% say they have not been able to save money for the future.
- 29.
71% of lower-income U.S. adults experienced at least one financial hardship in the past year in 2026, compared with 39% of middle-income and 13% of upper-income adults.
Pew Research Center, Many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
These hardships are especially common among people with lower family incomes: 71% experienced at least one, compared with 39% of middle-income adults and 13% of upper-income adults.
- 30.
One in four UK adults had low financial resilience in 2024, meaning missed payments, struggling with commitments or no savings to fall back on.
Financial Conduct Authority, More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The regulator’s research also shows that one in four people in the UK have low financial resilience, meaning that they have missed payments, are struggling to keep up with commitments, or don’t have savings to help them through difficulties.
- 31.
61% of UK adults with more than £10,000 in investible assets held at least three quarters of it in cash in 2024, according to the FCA.
Financial Conduct Authority, More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
61% of people with more than £10,000 in investible assets held at least three-quarters of these assets in cash, rather than investments.
- 32.
80% of U.S. college graduates had a retirement account in 2024, compared with 37% of adults with no college experience, according to the FINRA Foundation.
FINRA Investor Education Foundation, FINRA Foundation Releases Sixth Wave of the National Financial Capability Study (Jul 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The percentage saving for retirement varies greatly by education level: 80 percent of college graduates have a retirement account, in contrast to 37 percent of those with no college experience.
Chart
U.S. adults with three months of emergency savings, by family income
Federal Reserve Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, 2025, all U.S. adults.
- Under $25,00021%
- $25,000 to $49,99939%
- $50,000 to $99,99955%
- $100,000 or more75%
Source: Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments
Savings account and deposit rates
- 33.
The national average rate on U.S. savings accounts was 0.38% in the FDIC's August 2026 update.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Savings 0.38 1.13 3.63 4.38 4.38
- 34.
U.S. money market deposit accounts paid a national average of 0.63% in August 2026, according to the FDIC.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Money Market 0.63 1.38 3.63 4.38 4.38
- 35.
The national average rate on a 12-month CD was 1.71% in August 2026, according to the FDIC.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
12 month CD 1.71 2.46 4.08 5.65 5.65
- 36.
Five-year (60-month) CDs paid a national average of 1.36% in August 2026, less than 12-month CDs.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact wording at the source
60 month CD 1.36 2.11 4.45 6.09 6.09
- 37.
4.2% of U.S. households, about 5.6 million, had no checking or savings account at a bank or credit union in 2023, according to the FDIC.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 2023 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households: Executive Summary (Nov 2024)
Exact wording at the source
In 2023, 4.2 percent of U.S. households— representing about 5.6 million households— were unbanked.
- 38.
One third (33.4%) of unbanked U.S. households in 2023 cited fees or minimum balance requirements as the main reason they had no account.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 2023 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households: Executive Summary (Nov 2024)
Exact wording at the source
One-third of unbanked households in 2023 (33.4 percent) cited a reason related to fees or a minimum balance as the main reason for not having an account.
- 39.
The effective rate on new UK time deposits from individuals rose to 4.42% in September 2026, from 4.24% in August, according to the Bank of England.
Bank of England, Money and Credit, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The effective interest rate paid on individuals’ new time deposits with banks and building societies increased to 4.42% in September from 4.24% in August.
- 40.
The effective rate on the outstanding stock of UK sight deposits was 1.66% in September 2026, against 3.44% on time deposits.
Bank of England, Money and Credit, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The effective rates on the outstanding stock of time and sight deposits were 3.44% and 1.66% respectively, compared to 3.41% and 1.65% in August.
- 41.
UK households deposited a net £5.0 billion into ISAs in September 2026, according to the Bank of England.
Bank of England, Money and Credit, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
This was driven by households depositing an additional £5.0 billion into ISAs and £0.7 billion into interest-bearing sight deposit accounts.
- 42.
UK household deposits with banks and building societies rose by £4.7 billion in September 2026, after £4.9 billion in August.
Bank of England, Money and Credit, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Households’ deposits with banks and building societies increased by £4.7 billion in September, following net deposits of £4.9 billion in August.
Chart
U.S. national average deposit rates, August 2026
FDIC national rates, deposit-weighted averages across banks and credit unions, as of August 17, 2026.
- Interest checking0.07%
- Savings0.38%
- Money market0.63%
- 12-month CD1.71%
- 60-month CD1.36%
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026
Retirement savings and early withdrawals
- 43.
61% of U.S. adults had a tax-preferred retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
This share included the 61 percent of adults who had a tax-preferred retirement account, including employer-sponsored defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRA), or Roth IRAs.
- 44.
35% of U.S. non-retirees thought their retirement saving was on track in 2025, unchanged from 2024.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
While most non-retired adults had some type of tax-preferred retirement account (such as a 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA) or a defined benefit pension, a lower 35 percent of non-retirees thought their retirement saving was on track.
- 45.
14% of U.S. non-retirees borrowed from, cashed out or cut contributions to their retirement accounts in the 12 months before the 2025 survey.
Federal Reserve Board, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Collectively, 14 percent of non-retirees borrowed from, cashed out, or reduced contributions to their retirement accounts in the prior 12 months.
- 46.
61% of U.S. workers were confident in 2026 that they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, down 6 points from 2025, according to EBRI.
Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey Finds Americans Less Confident About Retirement (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Workers’ confidence in having enough money to live comfortably in retirement fell 6 percentage points from 2025 to 61%, while retirees’ confidence fell 5 percentage points to 73%.
- 47.
6% of Vanguard plan participants allowed to take hardship withdrawals took at least one in 2025, up from 5% in 2024.
Vanguard, How America withstands financial hardships (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Of participants permitted to take hardship withdrawals, 6% initiated at least one in 2025, up from 5% in 2024
- 48.
46% of Vanguard participants who took a hardship withdrawal in 2025 took more than one during the year.
Vanguard, How America withstands financial hardships (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Additionally, 46% of participants who initiated a hardship withdrawal in 2025 took more than one throughout the year, including 21% who took three or more
- 49.
36% of hardship withdrawal requests in Vanguard plans in 2025 were made to prevent foreclosure or eviction.
Vanguard, How America withstands financial hardships (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 36% of hardship withdrawal requests were initiated for this reason
- 50.
95% of defined contribution plans in Vanguard's data offered hardship withdrawals in 2025.
Vanguard, How America withstands financial hardships (Mar 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As a plan feature, hardship withdrawal provisions are commonplace, with 95% of all defined contribution plans offering them in 2025.
- 51.
33% of UK adults with a defined contribution pension had less than £10,000 saved in it in 2024, according to the FCA.
Financial Conduct Authority, More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Looking towards retirement, the FCA’s survey found that one-third (33%) of adults with a defined contribution pension have less than £10,000 saved.
- 52.
37% of U.S. adults said in 2026 that they worry every day or almost every day about being able to save for retirement.
Pew Research Center, Many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
For example, 37% say they worry every day or almost every day about being able to save for retirement.
Chart
Vanguard plan participants taking a hardship withdrawal
Share of participants permitted to take hardship withdrawals who initiated at least one, Vanguard recordkeeping data.
- 20202%
- 20212%
- 20223%
- 20234%
- 20245%
- 20256%
Source: Vanguard, How America withstands financial hardships
Questions readers ask
- What is the U.S. personal saving rate right now?
- BEA put the U.S. personal saving rate at 3.8% of disposable income in September 2026, down from 4.5% in July. Households saved $911.1 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.
- How many Americans have an emergency fund?
- About half. The Federal Reserve found 55% of adults had three months of expenses in a rainy day fund in 2025, the FINRA Foundation found 46% in 2024, and Pew found 53% of adults lacked such a fund in August 2026.
- How many people could cover a $400 emergency expense?
- 63% of U.S. adults said in 2025 they would cover a $400 expense with cash, savings or a credit card paid in full, according to the Federal Reserve. 12% said they could not pay it by any means.
- What is the average savings account interest rate?
- The FDIC's national average was 0.38% for savings accounts and 0.63% for money market accounts in August 2026, with 12-month CDs at 1.71%. These are deposit-weighted averages, so many online accounts pay far more.
- Do people save more in Europe than in the U.S.?
- National accounts show higher rates in Europe: 14.2% in the euro area (Eurostat) and 8.8% in the UK (ONS) in the second quarter of 2026, against 3.8% in the U.S. in September 2026. Part of the gap reflects different definitions, such as Eurostat's use of a gross rate.
- Are more people taking money out of retirement accounts?
- Yes. Vanguard reports that 6% of eligible participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025, up from 2% in 2020, most often to avoid foreclosure or eviction. The Federal Reserve found 14% of non-retirees borrowed from, cashed out or reduced contributions to retirement accounts in the prior year.
Where these numbers come from
We chose figures that describe household saving directly: national saving rates, emergency savings, the spread of savings by income, deposit rates and early withdrawals from retirement accounts. Saving rates come from national accounts (BEA, ONS, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, ABS) and are revised each quarter; Eurostat's euro area figure is a gross rate including pension saving, while BEA's is a net rate, so levels differ by definition. Survey figures come from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, the FINRA Foundation's 2024 National Financial Capability Study, Pew Research Center's August 2026 survey, EBRI's 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey and the FCA's 2024 Financial Lives survey. Survey questions differ, so three-month emergency fund shares range from 46% to 55%. FDIC national rates are deposit-weighted averages and sit well below the best rates on offer. Vanguard and JPMorgan Chase Institute figures describe their own customers and plan participants, not the whole population. We did not use rate-shopping sites or personal finance roundups as sources. Every quote was checked against the source page on the date shown. We store the sentence each number appears in, and a script loads the publisher's page again to make sure that sentence is still there. Our methodology has the details.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, June 2026 (Sep 2026).
- Bank of England. Money and Credit, September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- Employee Benefit Research Institute. 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey Finds Americans Less Confident About Retirement (Apr 2026).
- Eurostat. Household saving rate decreases to 14.2% in the euro area (Oct 2026).
- Eurostat. Household real income per capita slightly increases in both the euro area and the EU (Oct 2026).
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. National Rates and Rate Caps, August 2026 (Aug 2026).
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 2023 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households: Executive Summary (Nov 2024).
- Federal Reserve Board. Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Savings and Investments (May 2026).
- Financial Conduct Authority. More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals (May 2025).
- FINRA Investor Education Foundation. FINRA Foundation Releases Sixth Wave of the National Financial Capability Study (Jul 2025).
- JPMorgan Chase Institute. Household Finances Pulse: Through May 2025 (Jul 2025).
- Office for National Statistics. GDP quarterly national accounts, UK: April to June 2026 (Sep 2026).
- Pew Research Center. Many Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities (Oct 2026).
- Statistics Canada. National balance sheet and financial flow accounts and household income, second quarter 2026 (Aug 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 (Oct 2026).
- Vanguard. How America withstands financial hardships (Mar 2026).
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HearSmart. (2026, November 8). Personal Savings and Emergency Fund Statistics 2026. https://hearsmart.org/personal-savings-statistics
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