"First Take": Corporate pensions end 2009 with improved funding but face ongoing challenges

Funded status improving - slowly. US corporate funding levels increased to about 85% at the end of 2009 from 79% at the end of 2008, based on our sample of 50 S&P 500 companies. Despite the rise in equity and bond prices and notable contributions by some plans, persistently low long-term interest rates have weighed on pension calculations and have prevented a further rise in funded levels. Funded status declined in 2009 for several plans despite strong asset performance.


>> "First Take": Corporate pensions end 2009 with improved funding but face ongoing challenges
March 2010 [PDF 619 KB]