Improvement continues in PPF 7800 deficit

The aggregate deficit of the pension schemes in the PPF 7800 index fell to £206.2bn at the end of March 2012, according to figures published today by the Pension Protection Fund.

The deficit for the 6,432 schemes compares to a £222.2bn deficit recorded for the previous month, and represents a further improvement from the £265.5bn deficit at the end of January.

Continuing a trend seen last month, the funding ratio of the schemes also improved - from 82.4% to 83.4% - while the number of schemes in deficit continued to fall. There were 5,189 schemes in deficit at the end of March, and 1,243 in surplus.

Total scheme assets were £1037.3bn and total liabilities w3ere £1243.5bn.