Chester County retirement fund posts quarter gain as board watches manager performance, market risks

At a public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2025, the Chester County Employees' Retirement Fund trustees reviewed a quarterly performance report showing the fund returned about 6.9% for the quarter and was valued at roughly $575 million at the end of the reporting period.

The presentation to the board focused on macroeconomic drivers and portfolio-level results. The investment presenter summarized recent U.S. economic data, noting second‑quarter GDP was positive and unemployment has been stable but that continuing claims modestly increased. The presenter said headline CPI was running around 2.7% and core CPI near 3.1 in recent prints and that the fund manager team “does not see a recession yet” but is monitoring labor and inflation data closely.

Why it matters: the fund’s performance and manager decisions affect the county’s ability to pay retirement benefits and the county budget. The presenter told trustees the system is close to its assumed return target in…