Without the incentives, personal savings might have fallen even more.

It calculated that the couple's savings would fall short by nearly $2.5 million.

If some big life insurance companies were to fall, would consumers' savings fall with them?

The savings and loan industry may also fall in line behind such a plan.

Overall personal savings have fallen at the same time.

The typical savings of such a family fell to $26,500 in 2004, from $34,400 in 2001.

Personal savings fell to a record low of 2.7 percent, less than half the average of the 1970's.

Meanwhile, personal savings fell to what is now the lowest level since the 1930's.

With no savings to fall back on, many ended up homeless.

That means saving would fall, dragging down investment and productivity.