Surging equity prices mean that many employees may be able to work fewer years than recently feared in order to retire on a reasonable income, according to calculations from Mercer. Mercer’s new “DC Barometer” shows that on the basis of stock market conditions and annuity price movements between the end of December 2008 and December 2009, a scheme member considering retirement will now have to work around 15 months less in order to retire on the same expected income.