Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its latest Pension Funding Index, which analyzes the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension plans. In May, these pension plans experienced a$31 billion increase in funded status based on a $3 billion decrease in asset values and a $34 billion decrease in pension liabilities. The funded status for these pensions increased from 82.6% to 84.1%.

"The second quarter of 2015 has reversed the losses we saw in the first quarter," said John Ehrhardt, co-author of the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index. "For the year these pensions have now experienced a $50 billion decrease in the funded status deficit, thanks to rising interest rates. The discount rate that determines pension liabilities is now at 3.97%, and getting back above 4% would continue to push pension funding in the right direction."

Looking forward, under an optimistic forecast with rising interest rates (reaching 4.32% by the end of 2015 and 4.92% by the end of 2016) and asset gains (11.3% annual returns), the funded ratio would climb to 91% by the end of 2015 and 105% by the end of 2016.  Under a pessimistic forecast with similar interest rate and asset movements (3.62% discount rate at the end of 2015 and 3.02% by the end of 2016 and 3.3% annual returns), the funded ratio would decline to 80% by the end of 2015 and 72% by the end of 2016.

To view the complete Pension Funding Index, go to http://us.milliman.com/PFI. To see the 2015 Milliman Pension Funding Study, go to http://us.milliman.com/PFS/.