More companies are freezing or terminating these retirement plans,  USA Today  reports.

In 2004, 71 companies in the Fortune 1,000 that sponsored traditional pensions froze or terminated their plans, according to a study released earlier this year by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a human resources consulting firm. That represents an increase from 45 companies in 2003 and 39 companies in 2002.

When companies freeze a plan, they keep it in place but halt future benefits that would have been earned. Terminating a plan involves closing it down. More companies are also not offering pension plans to new hires.