The week ahead: U.S., U.K. leaders talk pensions

The Senate is back in session this week, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., will deliver a keynote speech focused on Social Security at the National Institute on Retirement Security's annual Retirement Policy Conference this week. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will also hold a hearing on how to expand pension benefits for American workers.

Across the pond, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's annual investment conference kicks off in Edinburgh with speakers including Paul Maynard, the U.K. pensions minister.

• New home sales data for January will be released Feb. 26.
• Conference Board consumer confidence survey results will be reported Feb. 27.
• Fourth-quarter gross domestic product data will be released Feb. 28.
• The core personal consumption expenditure price index for January comes out Feb. 29.
• Initial jobless claims will also be announced Feb. 29.
• Chicago purchasing managers index for February will be announced Feb. 29.
• Manufacturing PMI for February will be released March 1.

• Key regulators and researchers, including Ali Khawar, principal deputy assistant secretary at the Labor Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration, will speak at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 27 at their Small Business Retirement Summit.
• The National Institute on Retirement Security is holding its 15th annual Retirement Policy Conference on Feb. 26 and 27 in Washington with lawmakers, academics and retirement experts slated to speak.
• The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing Feb. 28 exploring how to expand pension benefits for American workers.

• On Feb. 27, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will deliver his budget request for the fiscal year starting July 1. The budget must be approved by the Legislature by June 30 and is expected to include a request for full annual funding — 100% actuarially determined contribution — for the New Jersey Pension Fund for the fourth consecutive year.
• The New Mexico State Investment Council will meet Feb. 27 and could make close to a dozen commitments to alternative investments, spread across private credit, private equity and real estate.
• Texas Teachers' Retirement System and Texas Employees' Retirement System will hold their 19th annual Emerging Manager Conference virtually Feb. 28. Small and emerging managers will have the chance to connect with asset allocators. Panels will delve into topics such as the effect of new SEC rulings and challenges faced by emerging managers, including fundraising.

• The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's annual investment conference will take place in Edinburgh on Feb. 27-29. Delegates can expect to hear from a variety of speakers, including Paul Maynard, pensions minister, who will talk through the U.K. government's ambitions for retirement plans to invest in illiquids, sustainable assets and U.K. growth.
• Projected German CPI for February comes out Feb. 29.
• European Union year-over-year consumer price index numbers for February will be released March 1.

• China manufacturing PMI for February comes out Feb. 29.