News Summary: Mutual fund fees fell again in 2012
News Summary: Mutual fund fees declined again in 2012, but is it enough?
STOCK FUND COSTS DECLINE: Mutual fund fees fell slightly last year, extending a long-term trend, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday. The trade organization said stock fund investors paid an average expense ratio of 0.77 percent. That's down from 0.79 percent in 2011 and 0.83 percent in 2010.
BOND FUND EXPENSES SLIP: Average expenses at bond funds slipped to 0.61 percent from 0.62 in 2011, and 0.64 in 2010.
ASSET GROWTH: The declines in bond fund expenses have been small in recent years, considering that total assets in bond funds have more than doubled since 2008 to $3.5 trillion.
