The value of Australian superannuation funds fell by 0.8% in the three months ended 2025, according to data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
APRA did not provide a reason for the slight fall in their combined value to $4.129 trillion (US$2.642 trillion) at 31 March from $4.167 trillion at 31 December, but about half of their assets are invested in equities and share markets were weaker over this period.
It was the first quarterly decline in assets since the March quarter of 2024.
However the value of assets managed by super funds grew 5.9% in the 12 months to 31 March as APRA-regulated assets rose 7.4% to $2.89 trillion, with self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) assets rising 2.7% to $1.01 trillion, APRA said in a statement.
Total contributions to super funds increased 14.4 % to $202.8 billion in the year ending March 2025 as employer contributions rose 10.3 % to $147.1 billion and member contributions jumped 26.9 % to $55.7 billion.
Benefit payments to members increased by 11.6 % to $127.5 billion as lump sum payments rose 9.1% to $70.0 billion and pension payments climbed 14.9 % to $57.6 billion.
