Saving for retirement is the goal for 95 percent of households that own mutual funds, and the number one goal for 76 percent of those households, says this ICI study.

Though tough economic times are impacting retirement savings, including 401(k)s, this latest survey data indicate that participant activity through the end of 2008 was in line with historical norms.

This ICI research report finds that mutual fund fees and expenses fell in 2008, continuing a trend observed since the early 1980s.

As an ICI analysis shows, the Summary Prospectus adopted by the SEC will give investors what they want: a clear, concise document that provides the information they need most.

ICI’s annual compilation reports on retirement assets, characteristics of fund owners, use of index funds, and other trends.

This research presents a comprehensive overview of mutual fund owners, including their demographic characteristics, the ways in which they purchase fund shares, and the ways in which U.S. households use funds to meet their current and long-term financial needs.

Nearly half of U.S. households owns equities or bonds, a significant increase during the last two decades, according to joint research released by ICI and SIFMA.

At year-end 2007, 56 percent of household mutual fund assets were held through professional financial advisers.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are increasingly the gateway to mutual fund ownership. Nearly three-quarters of households list retirement as their primary financial goal.

The average account balance among consistent 401(k) participants from 2003 through 2008 dropped 24.3 percent during 2008 and had average annual growth of 7.2 percent over the five years.

U.S. retirement assets rose $1.0 trillion to $14.4 trillion in the second quarter of 2009, accounting for 34 percent of all household financial assets in the United States.

Low-cost mutual funds with below-average turnover continued to attract 401(k) investors’ assets in 2008. Nearly half of the $2.3 trillion in 401(k) assets was invested in mutual funds.

A comprehensive study of the economics of 401(k) and defined contribution retirement plans by ICI and Deloitte found that lower fees are closely related to a number of factors, including the size of the plan.

Total money market mutual fund assets increased by $3.71 billion to $3.339 trillion for the week ended Wednesday, November 18.

Total estimated inflows to long-term mutual funds were $8.42 billion for the week ended Wednesday, November 11.

The combined assets of the nation's mutual funds increased by $211.8 billion, or 2.0 percent, to $10.824 trillion in September.

The combined assets of the nation’s exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were $693.38 billion in September.

Unit investment trusts, investment companies that hold fixed portfolios of selected stocks or bonds, had total deposits of $2.57 billion in October.

The combined assets of the nation’s closed-end funds were $201.15 billion at the end of June 2009.

Mutual fund assets worldwide increased 12.0 percent to $20.34 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2009.

Americans held $14.0 trillion in retirement assets at year-end 2008, down 22 percent from year-end 2007.

ICI’s annual compilation reports on retirement assets, characteristics of fund owners, use of index funds, and other trends.