Spring 2013
Foreword
Clive Bolton, managing director of Avivas at retirement business Welcome to Avivas Spring 2013 Real Retirement Report. We are into our third year of tracking the concerns and finances across three distinctive ages of retirement pre-retirees (aged 55-64), retiring (65-74) and long-term retired (over-75) and continue to find new realities and challenges emerging. Each report focuses on an aspect of living that is especially relevant to these age groups and their finances. The Spring 2013 spotlight tackles the taboo of inheritance and asks what it looks like in the current economic and social climate. How much importance do the over-55s place on leaving an inheritance? What do people plan to leave and when do they begin to address the issue? Do financial pressures mean todays over-55s are more likely to pass their wealth on during retirement? These answers and more are revealed on page 4. Many over-55s are confident they will pass on more than their parents did before them: despite the current economic pressures we find that half take this upbeat view, although others are mindful of rising living costs and the possible need to pay for long-term care in later life. By the age of 65, leaving an inheritance outweighs supporting close family members as a financial priority. Nonetheless people are open to considering alternative ways to pass on their savings and assets: for example, by offering cash loans or gifts to their children and grandchildren or by jointly investing in property. It is telling, however, that pre-retirees are the least optimistic about the prospect of leaving an inheritance. Although increasing numbers count on a wage to boost their monthly income, this suggests that careful financial planning will be essential to help them realise this ambition in later life. This is especially true for retirees when rising living costs are eroding savings pots and pushing debt repayment down their list of priorities. It is encouraging to see incomes rise since December 2012, but the over-55s are under no illusions that the general atmosphere of austerity is here for some time yet. Both short and long-term financial fears have risen significantly since our last report, and with further welfare cuts in the offing, the need to carefully balance finances in later life continues to be a priority.
But more than one in four (27%) still have an outstanding mortgage, with an average outstanding balance of 70,093 on a property typically worth 224,874. They are also the most likely to save nothing each month (38%) and the most likely to be in debt (10%), with a third (33%) owing money on credit cards. When it comes to inheritance, pre-retirees are the least optimistic about leaving more inheritance than their parents (45%) and the most likely to expect to leave nothing behind (21%).
l
Retiring (65 to 74 years old) have just passed the age at which people often retire
Are unlikely to have no savings (9%) and save the highest amount on a monthly basis (57.73). They are also most likely to receive an income from an employer pension (47%). However, they have the lowest valued homes on average (213,672) and those with unsecured debt owe the largest amount (23,856). They are the most likely to have started planning to leave an inheritance in earlier life after becoming a parent (18%) and believe this is the best time to do so (28%).
l
Long-term retired (75 years and older) most are 10 years or more into retirement
Have the most valuable homes (236,899) and are the most likely to own their house outright (80%). They also have the healthiest savings pots (14,998). They have the lowest levels of unsecured debt (8,372) but almost one in four (24%) owe money on credit cards. Are most likely to feel that leaving an inheritance is their biggest financial priority (13%).
Youthful pessimism:
Despite the countrys economic struggles, more than half of over-55s (53%) feel they will leave more of an inheritance than their parents did with over a third (37%) expecting to leave significantly more. However, this conviction is strongest among those who are furthest into their retirement (41% of 65-74s and 47% of over75s). Despite the fact 58% of 55-64s were wage earners in May 2013, compared with 46% in May 2010, they are relatively downbeat about their prospects of leaving an inheritance. Only 32% expect to leave significantly more than their parents did, while 21% feel they will not be able to leave an inheritance at all.
What the over-55s received as an inheritance and what they expect to leave:
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
The family home Other property or land Savings Pension or annuity funds Other personal investments (e.g. stocks and shares) Business assets Jewellery and family heirlooms Nothing Received Expect to leave
While jewellery and heirlooms continue to feature in the inheritance plans for 42% of over-55s (including 46% of women), personal financial investments such as stocks and shares are also significant. Nearly one in four (24%) expect to leave these, while just 7% received similar from their parents. In a sign of optimism that their available assets will survive the drain of living costs in later life, 17% of over-55s expect to leave some pension funds or savings from an annuity income as part of their inheritance. This includes 20% of 55-64s, but just 13% of the two older age groups. Only half as many people expect to leave nothing (17%) compared to those whose parents did likewise (33%).
When people think they should plan their inheritance and when they actually do:
The best time to act After becoming a parent After becoming a grandparent Once earning a decent wage In the years leading up to retirement In the first years of retirement In late retirement When I have something valuable to leave 26% 3% 13% 12% 7% 6% 15% When people act 17% 5% 8% 13% 10% 8% 19%
In reality, when combined, the act of retirement is the main trigger: 23% of over-55s start planning at this point, comprising 13% who do so in the final approach to retirement and 10% who make plans in the first years after finishing work. The financial pressures of becoming a parent mean significantly fewer (17%) actually start planning their inheritance at this stage than feel they should do. Earning a decent wage is also less of a trigger in practice than in theory; instead, almost one in five (19%) act only when they have something valuable to leave.
However, 60% say they would not take any of these actions either to preserve an inheritance or offer financial support to their family during retirement. This perhaps shows how much the over-55s appreciate what luxuries they can afford when the country according to the House of Lords Committee report, Ready for Ageing? is woefully underprepared to meet the needs of its growing elderly population.
Is inheritance pass?
In the current economic climate there are plenty of reasons to think that some over-55s might feel compelled to give financial support to younger relatives during their retirement, rather than waiting to leave an inheritance. Giving a cash loan to family for example, to help with purchasing a home is the most common kind of financial support offered instead of leaving an inheritance: 21% of over-55s have done this, including 25% of over-75s. This is also the most common alternative that over-55s say they would consider, along with regularly giving money to family to avoid inheritance tax (both 20%). However, only 8% have actually done the latter, and almost half (45%) oppose this course of action. Pre-retirees are the most likely to consider it (25%).
Although many over-55s are hopeful of leaving an inheritance, the concerns of those on the final approach to retirement suggest this may become less common as they find their finances squeezed in later life. Even so, there are steps they can take to improve their chances. For example, lifetime mortgages can be taken out with an inheritance guarantee so that people can rest easy that an agreed amount of their propertys value is fully protected.
Clive Bolton, managing director of Avivas at retirement business
Economic overview
Over-55s RPI (Retail Price Index) annual inflation increased significantly between December 2012 and May 2013, rising from 2.74% to 3.4%. While this is considerably lower than the same time last year (4.05%), over-55s RPI has risen extensively in the three years since the Real Retirement Report began, when it was just 1.69% (Q1 2010).
This is also the first time the over-55s RPI has been higher than the RPI for all consumers (3.3% - April 2013) in the last 12 months, which is unwelcome news for the 18% of over-55s who earn less than 750 a month.
% change
4% 3% 2% 1%
2010
2011
2012
2013
Month
The vital costs that the majority of over-55s need to meet have continued to rise, with year-on-year increases in inflation for food (+3.63%), housing (+2.27%) and travel fares (+5.32%). Following the recent hike in energy prices, fuel and light has experienced one of the largest increases in inflation, up +7.24% over the last year. Soaring energy bills suggest this may well get worse in the months ahead, putting a considerable strain on the over-55s finances. Other costs which have seen notable increases include household services (+7.16%) and clothing (+6.38%). Looking ahead, the Bank of England base rate has stood at 0.5% since March 2009 and shows no sign of rising in the immediate future particularly as the Bank looks to shepherd the economy towards permanent recovery and stable growth by keeping interest rates low. This combined with other factors such as rising energy prices, means inflation is likely to remain relatively high. However, as the UK has staved off the threat of a triple-dip recession, those over-55s who have repaid most of their borrowing and added to their savings pots will be best placed to benefit from any growth.
Income
l
Over-75s left trailing by income gains among younger age groups Savings and investments relied on less as a source of income in later life Wages increase as retirees remain longer in employment
Since January 2010, the Real Retirement Report has tracked the level of income the over-55s receive, where it comes from and how they use it to meet a range of living costs.
Level of income:
The median monthly income of the over-55s dropped slightly since December 2012 (1,444) to 1,412 in May 2013. This still represents an average gain of 51 in the last year (1,361 May 2012) and 162 over the last three years (1,250 May 2010). Those approaching retirement have experienced the biggest rise in their income over the last year. Between May 2012 and May 2013, the 55-64s saw their median income grow by 166 while in a sign of falling returns on savings, investments and pension funds both older age groups have seen their incomes scaled back. The typical 65-74 year old suffered an 18 loss of monthly income in the last 12 months, while the typical over-75 in May 2013 survives on 109 less each month than they did last year. The longer-term picture is more positive, with over-75s only experiencing a 12 loss of income over the last three years. Both younger age groups have made significant gains over the same period: the 55-64s adding 269 to their typical monthly income, and the 65-74s gaining 102.
Income bands:
As people increasingly extend their working lives, the number of over-55s with less than 500 of income a month has fallen in recent years. Just 10% fell into this category in May 2013, down from 11% in May 2011 and 12% in May 2010. At the opposite end of the scale, the number of over-55s receiving more than 2,500 a month appears to have peaked. Having reached 23% in September 2012, up from 17% in February 2010, it fell back to 20% in May 2013. The over-75s have been most affected, with just 11% earning more than 2,500 in May 2013 compared with 17% in September 2012.
Sources of income:
As savings rates and investment returns have dropped in recent years, noticeably fewer over-55s receive an income from this source. Three in ten (30%) identified investments/savings as a source of income in May 2010, falling to 27% in May last year and just 24% in both December 2012 and May 2013. The declining role of investments and savings is most visible among those aged 55 to 64. While 35% of over-75s drew on this income in May 2013 (vs. 37% - May 2010), just 20% of 55-64s (vs. 26% - May 2010) and 24% of 65-74s (vs. 35% - May 2010) did the same.
Annuities Wages
Date
In contrast, wages, personal pensions and annuities have each played a part in filling the hole. Overall, 35% of over-55s cited personal pensions as a source of income in May 2013 (vs. 33% in May 2010); 10% received an income from annuities (vs. 8% in May 2010); and 37% received a wage or other earned income, up from 33% in the last three years. Across the age groups, the over-75s have driven the rise in income received from personal pensions or annuity products. Almost half (44%) of over-75s now have a personal pension, compared with 37% in May 2010, and 17% receive income from annuities whereas just 9% did in May 2010.
It is encouraging to see the growing number of over-55s with personal pension funds. For those who want to exchange their pension pots for the flexibility and control of income drawdown, the death benefits this includes can leave your beneficiaries with a range of options to consider. Whether taking out a lump sum, continuing with income drawdown or converting it into an annuity, they have the freedom to decide how best to use the available funds.
Clive Bolton, managing director of Avivas at retirement business
Expenditure
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Stable outgoings over the last 12 months mask a tale of shifting priorities Rising travel, fuel and housing costs limit ability to make debt repayments
The typical monthly outgoings among over-55s in May 2013 amounted to 1,302: just 1 lower than in May 2012, but 61 more than in December 2012 and almost 250 more than in December 2010.
May 13 2012 ay 20 M 1,30 2 3 1,30 Dec 2012 Dec 2010 1,241 1,037
While the total amount of spending has changed little over the last year, there has been a noticeable shift in the focus of peoples outgoings. Compared with May 2012, the over-55s are setting aside 23 less each month to repay debts, but 14 more for food and 16 more for mortgage or rent payments. Compared with the end of 2012, the increase in mortgage or rent payments is even greater: those repaying a mortgage or paying rent are typically spending 25 more than they did in December 2012 (up from 282 to 307). This suggests the 8% of over-55s in rented accommodation have felt the effect of rising rents in the last six months, while the 19% who own their homes with a mortgage (including 27% of 55-64s) have not felt the benefit of consistent rate reductions in the mortgage market.
Looking back to the end of 2010, the average spend has increased in all but three categories. Each of those where spending has declined clothing and footwear, personal goods and services, postage, telephone calls and internet might be considered luxury expenses, whereas more essential items such as food and travel costs have risen considerably. By far the largest increases in expenditure since December 2010 have been seen in debt repayment (up 47%) and mortgage or rent payments (up 62%).
Assets
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Erosion of savings felt most keenly by those at retirement age Over-55s seek to compensate by improving monthly savings habits
Almost four in five over-55s (79%) own their own home in May 2013, either with or without a mortgage. Outright homeownership returned to the same level as in May 2010 (60%), having peaked at 64% twelve months ago. The percentage of homeowners with a mortgage did likewise, returning to 19% in May 2013 as in May 2010 having dipped to 17% in May last year. One difference to note is a slight increase in the percentage of over-55s in social housing, up from 10% in May 2012 to 12% this quarter: driven by an increase of two percentage points among both 55-64s and 64-75s. At 222,423, the value of the typical over-55s home has dropped by 5% since the Real Retirement Report series began, and by 6% in the last twelve months. However, with the Governments Help To Buy scheme including existing housing stock and widely predicted to have a positive effect on prices, homeowners in this age bracket may expect to see their properties increase in value as the scheme gathers pace.
Savings pots:
Savings pots have fluctuated among the over-55s in recent times as they adjust to inflation and rising living costs. Having peaked at 18,364 in September 2012, the typical savings pot has fallen by over a third (36%) to 11,763 in May 2013 25% down on the equivalent time last year. The most significant loss was experienced by the 65-74s, who have seen their savings pot halved over the last twelve months as they have dipped into their available funds. Those aged 55-64 have limited the impact of living costs on their cash reserves, helped no doubt by the fact that 58% of this group still receive wages or other earned income. The percentage of over-55s with no savings dropped to 14% in May 2013: down from 17% in May 2012 to the second lowest figure recorded since February 2010. Those with less than 500 saved also fell from 24% to 22% over the same period, suggesting that people who previously struggled to put money aside have managed to make some headway over the last year. In each case, all three age groups have benefited. However, the percentage of over-55s with less than 2,000 in savings crept up from 31% in May 2012 to 32% in May 2013, having been just 25% less than twelve months earlier in November 2011. The biggest shift over the last 12 months was among the retiring aged 65-74 with a rise of six percentage points from 23% to 29% in May 2013.
Despite the increasing tendency to work past the old Default Retirement Age of 65, it seems more people are dipping into their savings pots when they first enter retirement: a trend that is likely to be influenced by greater levels of mortgage and credit card debt being carried into retirement. In contrast, the proportion with savings of more than 100,000 dropped to 17% having stood at 23% in September 2012. Monthly savings habits improved across the board to May 2013, with the typical over-55 putting aside just short of 50 (49.30) each month to boost their retirement nest egg slightly less than the 52.18 seen in September 2012, and 59% up from 31.05 in May 2012. The biggest improvement was among 55-64s, who have almost doubled the amount they save each month from 20.60 in May 2012 to 40.75 in May 2013. It offers encouragement that messages about the importance of saving for retirement are having an impact on this group. This is backed up by the falling number of over-55s who save nothing each month. Having stood at 41% in May 2011 and reached 42% in May 2012, the number fell visibly to 35% by May 2013, with all three age groups showing signs of improved savings habits. The trend suggests despite the economic climate the UKs over-55s have adjusted to the extent that increasing numbers are at least able to make some effort to save from month to month.
2011 2012
2013
Over 75
Despite this, the 55-64s are still saving less money each month than the 65-74s and over-75s despite having the largest monthly income. This is doubtless the effect of having the largest typical expenditure of all three age groups.
Monthly income, expenditure and savings habits across the three ages of retirement:
1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0
All 55-64 65-74 Over 75 Typical income Typical expenditure Typical monthly savings
The suggestion that the pre-retirees are becoming more in tune with the importance of saving for retirement is especially welcome at a time when the potential shortfall in late life finances is so widely debated. The dip in typical savings pots in the years leading up to retirement is a sign that few people are immune to the pressure of living costs and unexpected expenses. But making efforts to save and replenish these funds can help to provide greater financial stability in retirement.
Clive Bolton, managing director of Avivas at retirement business Second properties:
The property investment market has been buoyant recently and offered a reliable medium to long term return for landlords. However, May 2013 saw the lowest frequency of second properties among the over-55s since February 2010 with just 8% having a property investment, holiday home, time-share, inheritance or property occupied by another family member. In contrast to the fortunes of their main homes, the typical value of these second properties grew by 5% in the 12 months to May 2013 to 226,278. This trend may be influenced by the presence of hotspots for buy-to-let properties or holiday homes around the UK, where growing interest from investors has served to increase prices.
Date
Borrowing
l l
Unsecured debt up by 4% since May 2012 and 36% since May 2011 65-74s buck the trend towards increasing levels of mortgage debt
Whereas people might once have hoped to clear their mortgage debt before retirement, 19% of over-55s reported that they have a mortgage on their home in May 2013. For this group, the size of the typical mortgage rose marginally by 1% from 63,555 in May 2012 to 64,229: almost 10,000 more than in February 2010 (54,567). Those aged 55-64 and over-75 have been most affected by the rise. The 65-74s have at least managed to reduce their typical mortgage debt by 16,000 in the last twelve months from 64,024 in May 2012 to 48,547 in May 2013 potentially assisted by final salary payouts or drawing lump sums from their pension funds. However, the mean equity tied up in the homes of over-55s with mortgages fell by 9% to 158,194 in the year to May 2013. This suggests many people are struggling to pay off their mortgage debt as they approach and enter retirement. Possibly tempted by favourable remortgage deals, some may instead choose or feel compelled to borrow more against their existing properties to meet other financial demands.
Typical mortgage debt vs. typical housing equity for main properties
232,985 54,567
Q1 2010
186,252 50,402
Q2 2010
163,906 60,440
Q3 2010
172,141 64,511
Q4 2010
170,483 65,107
Q1 2011
169,936 61,370
Q2 2011
173,454 64,214
Q3 2011
179,337 66,622
Q4 2011
167,945 67,663
Q1 2012
172,919 63,555
Q2 2012
183,334 66,571
Q3 2012
174,956 59,541
Q4 2012
158,194 64,229
Q2 2013
Unsecured debt:
With clearing debt a secondary focus to meeting the cost of food and mortgage/rent payments, the level of unsecured debt grew by 4% among those over-55s who have it from 22,401 in May 2012 to 23,188 in May 2013. Looking further back, this represents an increase of 36% in debt levels over the last two years, with the greatest rise among preretirees. While unsecured debts have risen by 194 for 65-74s and by 1,011 for over-75s, todays 55-64s typically approach retirement with 6,752 more unsecured debt than in May 2011. Even so, the over-55s have managed to reduce their levels of indebtedness slightly since the turn of the year, achieving a 2% reduction from 23,676 in December 2012. The percentage of over-55s with debt also fell from 12% to 9% over the year to May 2013, indicating that debts have become increasingly concentrated. When it comes to forms of borrowing, the use of personal loans in May 2013 remained constant at 13% of over-55s including 15% of 55-64s while a number of other methods for securing credit waned in popularity.
Instead, more people turned to credit cards (32% vs. 31% in December 2012) with the biggest shift among the 65-74 age group. Just 27% of this group made use of credit cards in May 2012, but this number rose to 31% in May 2013. To a lesser extent, this pattern was mirrored by the over-75s, with 24% borrowing on credit cards compared with 23% last year. This could suggest a slight improvement in the availability of credit to older consumers, along with an increasing willingness to take advantage of this form of borrowing. Despite their apparent comfort with using credit cards, half as many over-75s (5%) have unsecured debts compared with 55-64s (10%): a ratio that has improved considerably since May 2012, when 10% of over-75s had unsecured debts compared with 13% of 55-64s.
Both short and long-term fears at record highs Squeezed savers worry about falling return on savings
Since the Real Retirement Report was launched in January 2010, it has tracked the views of over-55s about the key threats to their standard of living over the short-term (six months) and the long-term (five years). Using data from the first Real Retirement Report as a base (100), it is possible to observe the trends over time and gain a broader understanding of how the over-55s view their world.
100 90 80 70
Fears of a double dip recession UK unemployment increases Libyan uprising 2011 Spanish banking crisis 2012
Unemployment falls
2013
100 90 80 70 60
UK unemployment increases
2012
2013
Benefit worries:
Following significant changes to the benefits system announced in 2013s Budget, the loss of current government benefits is an increasingly prominent worry amongst over-55s. On a short-term basis, fears about this have risen from 11% in Q4 2012 to 14% in Q1 2013, with those aged 55-64 worrying about this the most (16%). Fears surrounding a rise in taxes have also increased, with a fifth (20%) of over-55s perceiving this as a threat to their financial stability in the next five years. Again, this fear is most prominent amongst the 55-64s, with 23% of this age group worrying about this on a long-term basis. Going forward, it will be interesting to see if factors such as the recent fall in inflation and the potential flow of a more positive news agenda for retirees, will have an impact on their longer-term concerns.
Income ()
1,400 1,300 1,200 1,100 1,000 900 2010 2011 2012 2013
Savings:
Average savings pots have increased only marginally since February 2010, rising from 11,590 to 11,763 in May 2013. This is a considerable fall (24 percentage points) since the end of 2012, when the over-55s had typical savings of 14,544. However, the proportion of those with no savings has reduced by 2% since the beginning of 2012 (16% in Q1 2010 versus 14% in Q1 2013), suggesting that the economic downturn has convinced consumers of the need for a healthy savings pot. The proportion of over-55s who save nothing each month has also fallen from 39% in February 2010 to 35% in May 2013. This is also a significant improvement since December 2012, when 42% did not save on a monthly basis. Those aged 75 and over are the most frequent savers, with 70% saving money each month this quarter compared to 58% at the start of 2010.
2011
2012
2013
House prices:
Despite expectations that the housing market will finally return to life in 2013 after a long period of negative or zero growth, there has been little benefit so far for the over-55s, who have seen the average value of their home fall from 232,985 in February 2010 to 222,423. The typical mortgage among those who have them has risen by almost 10,000 to 64,299 in May 2013, compared with 54,567 in February 2010, with an 8% rise since December 2012 when it was 59,541.
Unsecured debt:
Debt has been tracked by the Real Retirement Report since January 2011. The amount owed by over-55s has risen steadily since then, increasing from 19,878 to 23,188 in May 2013. The over-75s are the only age group to have reduced their debt during this time, and even they have not seen a significant change (managing a reduction of just 1% from 8,457 at the start of 2011 to 8,372 in May 2013).
Q4
Q1
Q2 2012
Q3
Q4
Q2 2013
Regional overview
Average house price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 East Anglia London East Midlands West Midlands North East North West Scotland South East South West Wales Yorkshire & Humberside UK 231,343 383,000 177,823 177,961 159,295 185,714 188,433 290,244 257,468 166,667 184,423 222,423
Average mortgage 48,438 60,227 57,500 95,833 62,500 63,750 42,763 70,313 88,889 50,000 52,976 64,229
Own house outright 61% 56% 56% 64% 57% 63% 57% 61% 58% 72% 55% 60%
Number of over-55s 1,746,000 1,628,000 1,341,000 1,607,000 782,000 2,029,000 1,531,000 2,525,000 1,727,000 958,000 1,511,000 17,385,000
Source: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/population-estimates-for-england-and-wales/mid-2011--2011-census-based-/index.html
The idea of providing an inheritance is far from extinct, and something that many over-55s clearly aspire to. But for the current generation of retirees, there is clearly far more variety both in what they choose to leave and also the ways they choose to pass on their wealth. As with many aspects of retirement finances, prudent planning and careful management can really pay dividends helping you to manage living costs without feeling you have to sacrifice your own comfort to provide for family members.
Clive Bolton, managing director of Avivas at retirement business
Methodology
The Real Retirement Report was designed and produced by Wriglesworth Research. As part of this research more than 16,686 UK consumers aged over 55 were interviewed between February 2010 and May 2013. This data was used to form the basis of the Aviva Real Retirement Report. Wherever possible, the same data parameters have been used for analysis but some additions or changes have been made as other tracking topics become apparent. Additional information sources include:
l House
of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, Report of Session 2012-13 Is the UK Ready for Ageing? March 2013 for National Statistics, Consumer Price Inflation, March 2013 April 2013 for National Statistics, Gross Domestic Product Preliminary Estimate, Q1 2013 April 2013 for National Statistics, Pension Trends Chapter 9: Pension Scheme Funding and Investment, 2013 Edition April 2013 for National Statistics, Pension Trends Chapter 10: Saving for retirement, 2013 Edition April 2013
Technical notes
l A
median is described as the numeric value separating the upper half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. Thus for this report, the median is the person who is the utter middle of a sample.
l An
average or mean is a single value that is meant to typify a list of values. This is derived by adding all the values on a list together and then dividing by the number of items on said list. This can be skewed by particularly high or low values.