The Graying of the American Economy

2015 Annual Report Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta The Atlanta Fed is pleased to announce the release of its Annual Report, the Graying of the American Economy. Between 2010 and 2030, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will nearly double, from 40 million to 74 million. As they live longer, Americans are retiring later—but the sheer number of older Americans and the slow growth in the number of 20- to 64-year-olds are combining to slow labor force growth. Moreover, the number of individuals dependent on Medicare, Medicaid, and other publicly funded programs is rising, and the number of individuals contributing revenue to these programs is declining. This year, we take a close look at the changing demographic profile and how this will affect the nation's potential for economic growth. We're also serializing the release of the annual report so we can have an ongoing conversation about this important topic. In upcoming releases scheduled over the next two months, we'll cover the impact demographic change will have on the labor market and we'll examine if having an older economy equates to a weaker economy. View the elements of the online annual report including interactive graphics, videos, photography, and text. Also, don't forget to check our website for upcoming annual report essays and subscribe to receive notifications of new annual report content. Join the conversation on Twitter using #ATLFedReport.