CPI

Inflation in the UK dropped in April, beating the consensus forecast.

The government launched a public consultation on simplifying pension regulation as part of its wider Red Tape Challenge in April.

Total UK pension obligations hit £7.1trn at the end of 2010 - including unfunded defined benefit public sector obligations of £900m, national statistics show.

Schemes are being asked to pay a prohibitive premium to hedge against Consumer Prices Index or Limited Price Index inflation, delegates at the PP Risk Reduction Forum heard.

The country's largest supermarket chains will become the first employers to auto-enrol their workforces this autumn.

The wider significance of the Danks v Qinetiq case

Sponsoring employers could be given unilateral powers to amend defined benefit scheme rules without trustee consent to offset a £4.2bn spike in National Insurance costs.

Universities Superannuation Scheme employer costs will stay fixed at current levels to help meet a £2.9bn shortfall in the scheme following its latest triennial valuation.

QinetiQ has agreed a funding plan with trustees to tackle its £75m pension deficit after a High Court ruling cleared the way for it to switch to Consumer Prices Index-linking.

British Airways pensioners have triggered a second members' meeting after confirmation the scheme would again pay CPI increases this year.