Pension liabilities of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans increased by $43 billion in October while their corresponding assets dropped by $2 billion, bringing the Milliman 100 PFI funded status deficit to $498 billion and a 72.6% funded ratio. This comes after two consecutive months of funded status improvements.

October’s funded status decline was primarily due to a decrease in corporate bond interest rates that are the benchmarks used to value pension liabilities. The funded ratio dropped to 72.6%, down from 74.5% at the end of September 2012.