Pensions experienced a $59.7 billion decrease in pension funded status in December, according to Milliman’s Pension Funding Index, an indicator of the country’s 100 largest defined benefit pension plans. The bad month cemented a bad year, leaving those pensions with a $236.4 billion deficit.

While 2011 was a bad year, the year-end 72.4 percent funded ratio still could not eclipse the record of 70.5 percent set in May 2003.

The full implications of 2011 will be examined in detail in the 2012 Milliman Pension Funding Study, due in the spring.