TSP’s July numbers in mid-summer slump

The C, S and I funds continued to plunge in July, according to the latest numbers from the Thrift Savings Plan. The C fund, which invests in common stocks, slipped 7.7 percent in July, after falling 7.1 percent in June. The C fund, which has dropped 23.63 percent over the past 12 months, has rallied only once this year, gaining 3.73 percent in March. The TSP's S fund also posted negative returns for July. The S fund, which invests in the stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, tumbled 9.93 percent, after declining 6.67 percent in June. Over the past year, the fund has dropped 17.34 percent. The I fund, which invests in international stocks, has not fared much better. In July, the fund dipped 9.99 percent, following a 3.87 slip in June. Since August 2001, the fund has dropped 17.1 percent. The G fund, made up of government securities, stayed steady in July, gaining 0.43 percent, after posting the same return in June. The fund has gained 5.27 percent over the last year. The F fund, which consists of fixed-income bonds, increased 1.19 percent last month, after gaining 0.97 percent in June. The 12-month return for the F fund is 7.72 percent.

The monthly C, F, G, S and I Fund returns reflect net earnings on the amounts invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the C, I and S funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

July's rates of return appear below. The numbers in parentheses are negative.