The amount that American’s save is usually in flux and the rate is often affected by unemployment, the status of the economy, and other factors. We have created the following chart using data provided by the Council of Economic Advisors, in their February 2003 Report. As you can see from the following chart, personal savings reached a high of 10.9% in 1982, but has been in a steady decline since 1992. Note that the percentages listed represent the percent of disposable income saved for the given year:
year
savings %
2001
2.3
2000
2.8
1999
2.6
1998
4.7
1997
4.2
1996
4.8
1995
5.6
1994
6.1
1993
7.1
1992
8.7
1991
8.3
1990
7.8
1989
7.5
1988
7.8
1987
7.3
1986
8.2
1985
9.2
1984
10.6
1983
8.8
1982
10.9
1981
10.8
1980
10.2
1979
9.2
1978
9.0
1977
8.7
1976
9.4
1975
10.6
1974
10.7
1973
10.5
1972
8.9
1971
10.0
1970
9.4
1969
7.8
1968
8.4
1967
9.4
1966
8.3
1965
8.6
1964
8.8
1963
7.8
1962
8.3
1961
8.3
1960
7.2
1959
7.6