A new national survey co-sponsored by Principal Financial Group Inc. says a record number of Americans have lost confidence in their ability to afford retirement.  

The 2011 Retirement Confidence Survey, released today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in Washington, D.C., found that more than a quarter of workers (27 percent) — the most ever in the two decades of the survey — now say they are “not at all confident” about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement.

Reinforcing that trend, the percentage of workers saying they are “very confident” ties with 2009 at 13 percent — the lowest rate ever measured by the survey. 

“Americans are beginning to recognize the level of savings needed for a comfortable retirement,” said Greg Burrows, senior vice president of retirement and investor services with Principal. “Now it’s critically important to take steps to improve the chances they’ll have enough.”  

Research has shown that even simple actions such as calculating how much money will be needed for retirement help people increase their savings, he said. “Creating a plan and working with a financial adviser can also help get savers on realistic paths to a secure retirement.” 

The survey found that many systemic conditions are forcing Americans to redefine retirement, including high unemployment rates; government fiscal crises; rising health- care costs; lower investment returns; a surging older population putting pressure on Social Security and Medicare; and longer life expectancies.

Full results of the survey are on the EBRI Web site at www.ebri.org