Defined benefit deficits across schemes eligible for the Pension Protection Fund have increased to £72.1bn at the close of February 2018, from a deficit of £51bn at the end of January 2018.
According to the PPF 7800 index, the funding level decreased over the same period to 95.6 per cent from 96.9 per cent, on a section 179 basis.
The index accounts for 5,588 schemes. There were 3,608 schemes in deficit and 1,980 schemes in surplus.
The PPF lays out funding comparisons as follows:
