Older Households Carry a Bigger Share of the U.S. Economy

Older Americans are playing a bigger role in the U.S. economy, according to a new analysis from Bank of America. The bank reports that households headed by someone 55 or older held close to $140 trillion in net worth as of the second quarter of 2026.

That is a very large pool of money, and its effects reach well beyond personal finance. Many of these households own their homes outright or hold significant equity in them. Their choices about when to sell, downsize or stay put can shape local housing supply and pricing. Their spending also supports demand across retail, healthcare, travel and other services.

The figure also hints at how property will change hands in the years ahead. As these households plan for retirement and estates, homes will move through sales, gifts and inheritance. Agents, lenders and builders who track those transitions may find that a growing share of future listings comes from owners who have held their properties for a long time.

The summary is brief, so it does not show how the total breaks down by asset type or region. Even so, the headline number makes clear that the 55-and-older group is central to the economy, and to how property markets move.