Inflation

Almost all FTSE100 firms increased the discount rate for IAS19 liabilities due to the yield on AA corporate bonds, research from Barnett Waddingham finds.

The vast majority of respondents are anxious about the effects of inflation.

UK CPI inflation has fallen to 2.4% in April, a larger-than-expected drop from the 2.8% figure recorded in March.

Guinness Peat Group has seen its schemes' deficits increase over the first quarter as an investigation by The Pensions Regulator into its scheme responsibilities continues.

The BT Pension Scheme has seen its defined benefit deficit more than double to £5.7bn as discount rate falls pushed up liabilities, its final year results show.

UK corporate pension deficits rose 14% in April as an expected improvement in bond yields failed to materialise, says Xafinity.

Hannah Brenton analyses the latest inflation predictions

Whitbread has increased the value of its asset-backed funding arrangement with its pension scheme to continue tackling its deficit, its latest results show.

Removing compulsory inflation proofing from defined benefit schemes would "widen the gulf" between public and private sector provision, says consultant John Ralfe.

The Office for National Statistics' decision to downgrade the status of the retail prices index and publish two additional inflation measures could lead to the index being dropped, warn consultants.