The funded status of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans improved by $42 billion during October 2011, as measured by the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index (PFI). The increase was primarily due to investment gains.
The funded ratio rose to 75.4% from 72.8% at the end of September and the funded status deficit decreased from $440 billion to $398 billion.
October was the first month showing an increase in pension funded status since June and the best month since January. This was favorable news in light of the $254 billion decline in the period from June 30, when the Milliman 100 PFI showed the most significant three-month deficit increase since the start of the financial crisis during the last quarter of 2008.