Unit Investment Trust Data
February 2002

Washington, DC, July 11, 2002 - Unit investment trusts, investment companies that hold fixed portfolios of selected stocks or bonds, had deposits of $1.17 billion in February 2002. For comparison, deposits were $1.28 billion in January 2002 and $2.77 billion in February 2001, according to statistics compiled by the Investment Company Institute.

Deposits to equity trusts totaled $1.00 billion in February 2002, compared with $1.07 billion in January 2002 and $2.62 billion in February 2001. Tax-free bond trusts recorded deposits of $87.2 million in February 2002, compared with $141.4 million in January 2002 and $116.2 million in February 2001. Deposits to taxable bond trusts reached $73.4 million in February 2002, compared with $60.7 million in January and $40.9 million in February 2001.

There were 51 new trusts issuing shares in February 2002. Of that total, 17 were new tax-free bond trusts, 32 new equity trusts, and two new taxable bond trust.

In terms of maturity, long-term bond trusts having an average weighted maturity of more than 15 years were the most commonly offered in February 2002, with $104.7 million in shareholder deposits.

Historical unit investment trust deposit data are available dating back to January 1996.