The 401(k) makes a comeback

Quick Vote

When do you think the economy will improve?

• In the next few months
• In six months to a year
• In a year or more
• It's already on the mend

or View results

Fortune 40: The best stocks to retire on

After a bleak 2008, equities are looking up. But whatever the market, our trademark long-term portfolio can help you build a nest egg for a secure future.

View photos

Ultimate Guide to Retirement

• Getting started
• 401(k)s & company plans
• Investing
• Annuities
• IRAs
• Self-employment plans
• Pensions and benefit plans
• Social Security
• Insurance
• Estate planning
• Living in retirement
• Getting help

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- For the first time in a year, more workers increased the amount of money they put into their 401(k) accounts during the second quarter than decreased their contributions, according to a report issued Wednesday by a retirement fund manager.

Boston-based Fidelity Investments, which manages retirement savings plans for 11.2 million workers, said participants decreasing contributions had outnumbered those raising them for the previous three quarters -- a period during which all the major stock indexes hit multi-year lows. The vast majority of workers did not alter their contributions in the quarter.

Fidelity said the average 401(k) account balance rose 13.5% in the second quarter to $53,900. The increase was primarily driven by the rally on Wall Street, but higher worker and employer contributions also contributed to the rise, the company said.

"Workers who maintained a long-term point of view are being rewarded with a nice recovery in their account balances," said Scott David, president Fidelity Investments workplace investing division.

Still, the rebound comes after the average account balance fell 5.4% in the first quarter to $47,500. In 2008, the average workplace savings account balance plunged 27% to $50,200 from $69,200 in 2007.

About 68% of the money contributed to 401(k)s during the quarter went to stocks, which is down from 75% over the last few years and a high of 80% in 2000, Fidelity said.

While the amount allocated to stocks was lower versus previous quarters, David said 68% is "a healthy sign of increased confidence."

"Investment in equities is now more balanced than it was in the past," he said. "Compared to historical average, 68% is slightly more conservative, but not extremely so."

Meanwhile, workers put 24% of their retirement savings into safe but low yielding investments such as money markets and fixed-income assets.