The estimated funded status of the 100 largest U.S.public pension plans grew by $36 billion from the end of June 2017 through the end of September 2017 as measured by the Milliman 100 Public Pension Funding Index. As of September 30, the funded ratio stood at 71.6%, up from 70.7% at the end of June. During the third quarter, the deficit droppped from $1.428 trillion to $1.392 trillion.