New law gives US companies a break on pensions

[FarCenter]

8. Another kick the can down the road until when things get better strategy.

That computation change will let companies estimate their pension fund earnings by assuming the interest rate will be near the average of the past 25 years, rather than the past two years when interest rates have been extremely low. Since they will now be able to assume that their pension investments are earning higher profits, they will be required to contribute less money from corporate coffers to make up the difference.

The problem is that things are unlikely to get better.