The Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF) announced the release of its 2026 Economic Impact Statement. CTPF made $1.6 billion in direct payments to annuitants living in Illinois in 2025. Those payments had a $2.2 billion impact on the Illinois economy, supporting more than 12,055 jobs in the State. The Buck Stays Here: Understanding the Economic Impact of CTPF Benefit Payments on the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago is produced annually and details CTPF's impact on the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago. The report includes economic impact by legislative district and Chicago Ward.  

"Most of our members choose to remain in Illinois after retiring, and the pension benefits they earned are invested right here, fueling both local businesses and the broader regional economy. This spending plays a vital role in enhancing communities throughout the state and especially within Chicago," said Carlton W. Lenoir, Sr., CTPF Executive Director. "CTPF pensions ensure a stable retirement for 23,035 Illinois residents, who continue to strengthen their neighborhoods and contribute in many meaningful ways." 

The report found that 83 percent of CTPF's annuitants who collect a pension stay in the State of Illinois, with nearly half of that number continuing to call Chicago home. CTPF annuitants residing in Chicago are responsible for approximately $1.1 billion in total economic impact and support 6,019 jobs across the city. 

The study used standard economic multipliers from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis to assess the economic impact of spending.