Planning for retirement generally requires you to make a lot of assumptions about the future. You have to estimate how much you'll spend, how long your savings may need to last and what kind of returns your investments could generate along the way. Right now, about 61% of Americans have a financial strategy in place, according to New York Life's 2026 Wealth Watch Midyear Outlook — up from 58% last year. But even a carefully constructed plan can start to look different when the cost of living changes faster than expected. Those assumptions have become harder to make with confidence, though, after several years of significant price increases. Case in point? New York Life's study also shows that just 52% are confident their retirement savings will last a lifetime. Part of the issue is that while inflation has eased from the levels seen earlier in the decade, the cost of many everyday expenses remains elevated, and prices are continuing to climb. That can create a meaningful gap between what retirees and soon-to-be retirees once expected to spend and what their lifestyle actually costs today. And those price increases can have an outsized impact in retirement, when there may be fewer opportunities to offset rising costs with higher earnings. Inflation doesn't necessarily mean a retirement plan needs to be completely overhauled, though. What it can mean, however, is that some of the assumptions the plan was built around deserve another look. How inflation can change your retirement plan Inflation can affect retirement finances in several ways, and its impact isn't limited to a higher grocery or utility bill. Over time, it can influence everything from how much you need to save to how quickly you draw down your portfolio. Here's what to know about the impact of inflation on your retirement plan: You may need a larger retirement savings target One of the biggest risks inflation poses is the gradual loss of purchasing power. If prices rise by an average of 3% annually, for example, something that costs $50,000 today would cost roughly $67,000 in 10 years.