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The pensions crisis

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The pensions crisis

This multimedia feature explores the dilemmas faced by individual savers, companies and governments. Our experts advise on how to rebuild depleted pension savings and offer potential solutions to the international pensions time bomb

Pensions in crisis

Related content and features

UK funds face pension reform threat

Employers’ and labour groups say implementation of European proposals to strengthen retirement plans could push many businesses into insolvency

Unions threaten strikes over pension reforms

Four unions representing 600,000 members warned of fresh disruption, but this is likely to be less widespread than last November’s strike by 1.1m workers in 29 unions

Report finds ways to boost pensions

Save earlier, pay more in while working and retire some years after becoming eligible for state entitlement, it says

Pension liabilities to hit US blue-chips

Funding gap for plans of S&P 500 companies almost doubled in 2011 to around $450bn as bond yields dropped

Comment & Analysis

Unilever staff set to resume pension protest

Disgruntled workers look to down tools for second time in just over month with Anglo-Dutch conglomerate determined to close final-salary scheme

Some pensions guarantee better than none

Replacement of final salary schemes by money purchase ones has transferred risks from employers to individual employees

An imprudent choice on pensions

EU proposal is laudable enough: to strengthen funding and enhance the value of the covenant for workers. But its intervention could be counterproductive

Unilever’s pension move prompts strike

Unilever’s Merseyside plant was shattered for the first time by something its Victorian founder Lord Leverhulme could never have envisaged

Britain braced for pension protest

The last thing Britain’s fragile economy needs is another winter of discontent

US pensions gap: Regions of rancour

Efforts to contain ballooning state deficits by curbing public sector workers’ benefits are polarising political opinion

Fed move to add to pensions funding gap

As the Federal Reserve announces details of its $400bn “Operation Twist”, falling bond yields pile pressure on stretched funds

Twisted US pensions: counting the cost

The Fed’s latest manoeuvre may leave large corporations turning in the wind as they struggle with defined-benefit pensions

Hedge funds: pension plan switch urged

Analysts claim portfolio switch into hedge funds increases annual returns and lowers risk

More stories

Retirees lose up to £1bn through opaque market

Pension schemes would need £470bn for full pay-out

Report sceptical over pension savings

Kodak’s pension schemes underfunded

Doctors reject pension reform

Record deficit for pension funds in red

‘Unpalatable’ pension reforms revisited

Risk-sharing plan for pensions

Shell to close final-salary pension scheme

Fears grow of £600bn company pension bill

Funding gap doubles for US corporate pensions

UK companies reining in on pension support

Unions agree outline of pension deal

Threat of more pension strikes recedes

Final-salary pensions being closed rapidly

Unions reject pensions offer for NHS staff

Unions offered olive branch on pensions

Unions and government clash over strike

‘Auto-enrolment’ delay sparks criticism

Rolls-Royce offloads pensions liability