Australians’ retirement savings have taken a backwards turn in December despite the returns for the 2014 calendar year remaining at about six per cent. Picture: Thinkstock. Source: News Corp Australia

So far this month median growth funds (61 to 80 per cent growth assets) have slipped by about -1.1 per cent and are result in the 2014 returns being well down on the last two bumper back-to-back years.

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Despite the slide, Chant West’s investment research manager Mano Mohankumar said members should be pleased with the how funds have tracked this year even though they won’t bring home the significant jumps enjoyed in recent years.

Median growth funds have slipped by about -1.1 per cent this month. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Limited

“The returns are nowhere near as high as the previous two years with a 12.8 per cent increase in 2012 and 17.2 per cent in 2013,’’ she said.

“The increase this year is still in line with the typical growth fund objective to beat inflation by about two or three per cent, so around six to seven per cent is the typical return.”

Sharemarket nervousness has been blamed for the December slide.

The moderate increase this year is still in line with the typical growth fund objective. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

But despite the backwards turn to funds in December, Mr Mohankumar said members experienced a 0.8 per cent gain in November.

“The Aussie sharemarket was done by about three per cent and international shares were up by about 3.1 per cent in unhedged terms because of the depreciation of the Aussie dollar,’’ he said.

“The international shares in unhedged terms are above 5.3 per cent.

This year’s return doesn’t match the 12.8 per cent increase of 2012 or the 17.2 per cent rise of 2013. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Corp Australia

“Sharemarkets have been quite resilient in the face of a patchy economic backdrop.”

The estimated increased of about 6 per cent to median growth funds is likely to be the smallest increase since 2010 when they grew by 4.7 per cent.

And with 2015 less than two weeks away investment experts are now focused on potential interest rates falls.

This year’s six per cent annual growth estimate for median growth funds is likely to be the smallest increase since 2010. Supplied. Source: Supplied

The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate on hold at 2.5 per cent for 16 months and it’s tipped to fall even further next year to help stimulate the non-resource sectors of the economy.

CALENDAR YEAR PERFORMANCE (median growth funds)

2014 Estimated 6%

2013 17.2%

2012 12.8 %

2011 -1.9%

2010 4.7%

2009 15.1%

2008 -21.5%

2007 8%

2006 13.8%

2005 14.3%

2004 15.5%