Pension Funding Index, December 2010
10 December 2010
The funded status of the largest 100 U.S. corporate defined benefit pension plans fell by $22 billion in November 2010, bringing the deficit to $335 billion. The decline was a reflection of poor financial market performance overall in November, and specifically a drop in corporate bond interest rates. A change in the discount rate led pension liabilities to increase by $14 billion during the month, raising the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index value to $1.456 trillion, up from $1.442 trillion a year ago. The funded status of surveyed plans is projected to increase in the coming years, with the deficit dropping to $307 billion by the end of 2011 and $255 billion by the end of 2012.