CPI

UK - The BT Pension Scheme shortfall shrank £1.5bn ($2.4bn) in Q4 last year, helped by a £1bn increase in asset values and a £525m deficit payment, according to its quarterly report.

Labour MPs have accused the coalition government of 'short changing' the armed forces by indexing their pensions to CPI rather than RPI.

This month the panellists discuss what they feel will be the key challenges facing scheme administrators during 2011

Julian Mainwood of Barnett Waddingham discusses how the restriction of pensions tax relief will affect scheme administration

UK - Changes to defined benefit indexation have saved FTSE100 schemes more than £15bn($23.6bn), Towers Watson estimates.

Accrued benefits for deferred occupational scheme members will have plummeted 20% by retirement if schemes use Consumer Price Index inflation to uprate benefits, research finds.

Changes to defined benefit indexation have saved FTSE100 schemes more than £15bn, Towers Watson estimates.

Regulatory focus on plugging scheme deficits quickly is "unhelpful" and could actually damage businesses and pension funds, Hymans Robertson warns.

Companies are expected to conduct more full buyouts this year due to an improvement in funding levels, consultants say.

UK - Inflation edged closer towards 4% in December as the rising cost of food and oil products continued to hit the price of goods and services.