The Principal Financial Well-Being IndexSM: American Workers
The economic outlook brightens as more American workers report feeling secure about the state of the U.S. economy. Despite the increasingly positive view of the economy, American workers remain cautious when assessing their expectations for the next year. Workers also report planning for retirement and share what they plan to do with their tax refunds.
Key findings from the first quarter 2013 report (PDF: 140 KB), include:
- While 40 percent of workers think the economy will improve throughout 2013, a majority (60 percent) still believe the economy will stay the same or worsen.
- Many (44 percent) employees are holding off from making long-term financial commitments, such as buying a home or a car, due to the current state of the economy.
- Americans are planning for their retirement. Only 28 percent said they have not yet planned for financial security in retirement, down from 32 percent last quarter.
- Of the 64 percent of workers who expect to receive a federal or state tax refund, almost half (46 percent) plan to save or invest the refund.
Learn More
NEW! First quarter 2013 research on American Workers:
Fourth quarter 2012 research on American Workers:
The Principal Financial Well-Being Index: American Workers surveys employees of small and mid-sized businesses with 10 to 500 workers. It is part of a series on the financial well-being of Americans released quarterly by the Principal Financial Group® and is conducted online by Harris Interactive®.
For more information contact Sonja Sorrel at 515.362.2431 (sorrel.sonja@principal.com) or Jaime Naig at 515.247.0798 (naig.jaime@principal.com).
