Most Americans do not save enough for retirement.

• In 2004, more than half of all households had zero savings in an employer-based 401(k)-type plan or tax-preferred savings plan account. If the 50.5 percent of households who had no 401(k)-type plan or IRA are excluded, the median balance for this group was only $34,000.

• Among those near retirement (households headed by adults aged 55 to 59) half had $15,000 or less in an employer-based 401(k)-type plan or tax-preferred savings plan account. If the 36 percent of households who had no 401(k) or IRA are excluded, the median balance for this age group was still only $73,000.