Superannuation funds lost ground last month, with the median balanced option declining 0.6 per cent in September.
The median return came in at 1.6 per cent, down from 2.1 per cent in August, according to SuperRatings.
The decline was largely driven by a high weighting to Australian shares, which experienced a tough month, with a fall of 4.3 per cent.
The data shows the median return was lifted slightly by international shares, which rose 2.2 per cent in the month.
The median return for the year is still solid though, at 9.2 per cent, SuperRatings said.



