January TSP numbers in doldrums

The Thrift Savings Plan's C, S and I funds got off to an inauspicious start in 2003, posting negative returns last month, according to the latest numbers from the plan.

The C fund, which invests in common stocks, dipped 2.67 percent in January, after falling 5.85 percent in December. The fund, which was in a funk for most of 2002, has plunged 22.99 percent in the last 12 months.

The S fund also slipped in January, falling 2.35 percent after a 4.32 drop in December. The S fund, which invests in the stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, has tumbled 18.42 percent since February 2002.

The I fund, which invests in international stocks, declined 4.24 percent in January, after decreasing 3.27 percent in December. The fund has fallen 15 percent in the last year.

The TSP's G fund rose by 0.35 percent in January, after gaining 0.38 in the last month of 2002. The fund, made up of government securities, has picked up 4.89 percent in the last 12 months.

The F fund increased 0.10 percent in January, after posting a positive return of 2.08 percent in December. The fund, which consists of fixed-income bonds and is one of the TSP's most consistent performers, rose 9.52 percent over the last year.

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.

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