Charles Cowling

Defined benefit (DB) schemes ended 2017 with a much-enhanced funding position than at the start of the year, JLT Employee Benefits has recorded.

The aggregate deficit of the UK's defined benefit (DB) schemes rose to £450bn over the course of November, PwC's Skyval index has recorded.

The combined funding position of the UK's defined benefit (DB) schemes improved by £50bn over October, PwC analysis suggests.

The collective deficit of defined benefit (DB) schemes remained at £460bn from the end of August to the end of September, according to PwC's Skyval index.

The total cost of pension liabilities at the UK's 100 largest public companies increased from £586bn to £681bn last year, according to research.

All UK private sector DB schemes saw a £50bn improvement in funding levels on a funding measure in June, according to PwC's Skyval index.

The private sector's defined benefit (DB) deficit under IAS 19 remained relatively stable over May with the shortfall increasing by just £1bn, but a different measure showed a £20bn fall.

The combined funding level of the UK's defined benefit (DB) schemes stayed stable over April with just a £10bn increase in deficit, JLT Employee Benefits has estimated.

The funding level of defined benefit (DB) schemes improved by five percentage points in March on the back of a reduction in mortality improvements, JLT Employee Benefits has estimated.

More than two years' worth of dividends are needed to plug the £4.7bn defined benefit (DB) pensions deficits for 23 FTSE 250 companies, JLT Employee Benefits research shows.