"The funded status decreased by $22 billion during December 2014 for the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans ... While higher than expected investment returns produced a solid $81 billion gain, pension liabilities increased by $186 billion. The funded ratio was 83.6% as of December 31, 2014, down compared with the ratio on December 31, 2013, of 88.3%. The dismal funded ratio of 77.2% at December 31, 2012, was the last and only other time the discount rate fell below 4.0% at year-end."  MORE >>