PBGC deficit narrows to $18.1 billion

WASHINGTON--The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Wednesday reported an improvement in its financial position for its 2006 fiscal year, with the agency's deficit narrowing to $18.1 billion from $22.8 billion a year ago.

Much of the $4.7 billion improvement in the PBGC's insurance program for single-employer pension plans stemmed from airline industry pension funding relief provisions in the recently enacted Pension Protection Act, which resulted in "a sharp reduction in the amount of 'probable' liabilities reflected on the agency's balance sheet," the PBGC said in a statement.

"The PBGC's financial condition appears to have stabilized for the time being," PBGC Interim Director Vince Snowbarger said in the statement. "Our current assets can cover pension payments coming due for a number of years into the future, and our exposure to additional losses has declined."

As of Sept. 30, the agency reported assets of $60 billion and liabilities of $78.1 billion. In addition, the PBGC noted that its potential exposure to losses from pension plans sponsored by financially weak employers decreased to $73 billion from $108 billion in 2005.

In its statement, the PBGC attributed that improvement in part to higher interest rates, better credit ratings and improved plan funding at some employers.