Monthly changes in the Thrift Savings Plan’s performance were somewhat positive in April but returns were still mostly down when compared to the same time a year ago.

According to monthly totals released by the TSP on Monday, the largest monthly increase from March to April was in the small capitalization stock index S Fund, which rose from -0.39% to 4.23 during that time. The second-highest improvement was in the fixed income investment F fund, which increased from -1.23% to 0.82%.

The common stock index investment C fund had an April return of 5.33% compared to 4.38% in March, while the international stock index I Fund’s April return was 3.09% versus 2.35% the month before.

The securities-backed G fund only rose from 0.11% in March to 0.13% in April.

When compared to April 2020, only the G fund was up while the other stock funds all had decreased returns. Last year,  it wasn’t until May — about two months after the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing — that the TSP saw a major plunge.

As for the Lifecycle funds, performance was fairly positive. All funds were up since March and year-over-year performance was mixed. The highest monthly change was in the L 2065 fund, which went from 2.91% in March to 4.35% in April. The highest yearly change was in the L 2055, 2060 and 2065 funds, each of which was up by 4.35 percentage points since April 2020.

The biggest drop from April 2020 to last month was in the L 2055 fund, according to Monday’s numbers. It finished last month at 3.66%, however, the fund was not introduced until June of last year so it does not yet have a full 12 months of performance history.