Consumer Watch: Delaying Retirement

If you planned on retiring at a certain age, the current economic climate may force you to reconsider.

We have the details, in today's Consumer Watch.

IF GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HAVEN'T RETIRED YET, THEY'RE NOT ALONE. ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 29-PERCENT OF AMERICANS IN THEIR LATE SIXTIES WERE STILL WORKING IN 2006.

THAT'S SIX-MILLION PEOPLE OLDER THAN 65. AND THE B-L-S SAYS OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THE NUMBER OF WORKERS OVER THE AGE OF 55 WILL JUMP MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE RATE OF THE REST OF THE WORK FORCE.

AN A-A-R-P EXECUTIVE SAYS PEOPLE ARE DELAYING RETIREMENT FOR TWO MAIN REASONS. FIRST, THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. AN A-A-R-P POLL IN APRIL SHOWED 32-PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS AGED 55-64 HAVE HAD THEIR RETIREMENT PLANS PUSHED BACK BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

 THE A-A-R-P EXECUTIVE ALSO SAID PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER IN BETTER HEALTH. AND AS THE CREDIT CRUNCH CONTINUES, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS GETTING FEWER CREDIT CARD SOLICITATIONS IN THE MAIL -- BUT MORE OF OTHER TYPES OF FINANCIAL OFFERS, ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.

 AN ANALYST FROM THE MARKETING RESEARCH COMPANY MINTEL COMPEREMEDIA SAYS WITH ALL THE CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES, LENDERS ARE BEING MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHO THEY MAKE OFFERS TO.

SOME COMPANIES ARE DIVERSIFYING THEIR SOLICItATIONS. THE TIMES SAYS DISCOVER DOUBLED ITS LOAN OFFERS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND CITIBANK INCREASED ITS RETAIL BANKING OFFERS SEVENFOLD.