If you doubted all those rosy reports about how the economy isgetting better, you’re smart. Americans are having to postpone lotsof life’s important milestones, retirement included, because oflack of money—and the number is growing.

More than half of Americans (51 percent) have stalled on atleast one major life decision in the last year because of financialreasons, according to a Harris Poll survey from the AmericanInstitute of CPAs (AICPA). The bad news is that’s 20 percent higherthan it was in 2007 when a similar poll was taken.

Read: Will tax breaks incentivize retirementsaving?

In addition, the rates of postponement for some of these goalshave more than doubled since 2007. For instance, take retirement(or don’t, which is the case for many): 18 percent of Americans areputting it off, compared with 9 percent in 2007.

Then there’s marriage—postponed now by 12 percent, compared with2007’s 6 percent, and having children—postponed by 13 percent,while in 2007 just 5 percent were stalling. Of course, stalling onhaving kids could have something to do with the fact that 22percent are delaying buying a home, while in 2007 14 percent wereputting it off.

Higher education is on hold, too, with 24 percent waiting tillthey feel more flush. In 2007, 11 percent—still a sizeable enoughnumber—were trying to save up.

One item people shouldn’t be putting off, although it’scertainly understandable, is having a medical procedure done. In 2015, 19percent were waiting till their finances were in better shape,while in 2007 just 9 percent stalled.

So what’s getting in the way?

Well, despite the fact that 85 percent of respondents reporthaving made positive changes to their financial behavior since therecession, such as following a monthlybudget (58 percent), increasing their savings rate (44 percent) orbuilding up an emergency fund (35 percent), 60 percent of Americanssaid they were postponing these major life steps because of a lackof savings.

Half said they were worried about the economy; others said theywere having a tough time keeping up with nonmortgage monthly bills(39 percent) or medical bills (29 percent).

And some folks are taking care of elderly parents or otherrelatives (29 percent), working on reducing their credit card debt(28 percent), or worrying about losing their jobs (27 percent) andhaving a hard time making mortgage payments (25 percent).