People opt to pay off house rather than save
More people have focused exclusively on paying off their house at the expense of investing in any other form for the future, according to a savings survey.
The number of people who identify paying off their house as a form of saving has increased 30% since November 2003 (from 36% to 47%). In comparison to May 2003 this is a 27% increase (37% to 47%).
The survey, conducted by AMP, also shows that there has been an overall downward movement in most forms of retirement saving during the past year. Participation in superannuation plans dropped 26% since May 2003 and is now at the lowest ever level since July 2000. Bank or term deposits dropped 48% and there was a 55% drop in the numbers who claim to be saving through direct investments in shares. Investing for retirement through a residential property other than the home remained the same at 11%.
"These figures show that paying for a home has become all-consuming as people are feeling the pinch from larger mortgages," says AMP managing director Ross Kent.
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