shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Via Brandweek, a new study (commissioned by TV Land) Generation Buy: A Close Look at the Boomer Consumer shows that boomers are outspending other generational cohorts by a wide, wide margin.

The study found that consumers between ages 40 and 59 spend more on themselves each month than millennials and Gen Xers. But the buck hardly stops there: Gen Buy thrives on multigenerational purchases, and spends more than twice as much as younger consumers on others. The study, fielded by OTX, included a sample of 4,000 adults ages 18-65 nationwide.

For instance, Gen Buy spent more than three times the amount of money per month on spouses ($514) than adults under 40 ($169), nearly twice as much on kids ($295 vs. $158) and three times as much on teen children ($494 vs. $136).

New survey out today that says boomers are feeling the pinch of the sluggish economy. 81% of Americans 45 plus say the economy is in fairly bad or very bad condition. Even more upsetting, one in ten is borrowing to pay everyday expenses and more than a third of them are helping their children pay bills.

For boomers (45-64) almost a quarter are prematurely taking money out of their 401(k)s and other investments. For those 65 plus, almost six out of 10 are having a harder time paying for food, gas and medicine.

This is tough news for the state of the economy. But it may be even tougher for politicians. Almost three-in-four (74%) say their elected officials are not doing enough to help people caught in the economic squeeze. Sounds like a warning to me.