Public DB Plan Assets Continue Growth

This is a $351.9 billion or 13.2% increase from $2.7 trillion in 2010, according to new statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. This follows a $288.7 billion gain from 2009 to 2010.   

Total revenue increased 30.6%, from $471.6 billion in 2010 to $616.1 billion in 2011. The increase was driven by the rise of earnings on investments, which increased to $479.6 billion in 2011. Earnings on investments comprised 77.8% of total revenue, government contributions comprised 15.6% and employee contributions accounted for the remaining 6.5% of total revenue in 2011.   

Most investment categories showed increases, with decreases only in federal agency securities, funds held in trust and corporate bonds. Corporate stocks rose by 12.5%, from $930.2 billion in 2010 to $1.1 trillion in 2011. Corporate stocks comprised 34.6% of total holdings. Corporate bonds decreased by 0.2%, from $424.9 billion in 2010 to $424.0 billion in 2011.   

Corporate bonds comprised 14% of total holdings. Foreign and international securities increased by 24%, from $421.9 billion in 2010 to $523 billion in 2011. Foreign and international securities comprised 17.3% of total holdings. Government securities (which include U.S. Treasury) increased by 3.8%, from $232 billion in 2010 to $240.9 billion in 2011. Governmental securities comprised 8% of total holdings.   

Total payments (which consist of benefits, withdrawals and other payments) increased by 8.5%, from $213.8 billion in 2010 to $232 billion in 2011. Benefits increased by 7.6%, from $201 billion in 2010 to $216.3 billion in 2011. Benefit payments comprised 93.3% of total payments.