The income trust hall of shame has two new members, after Tuesday's 18-per-cent cut in distributions at Arctic Glacier Income Fund, and the suspension of payouts from Strongco Income Fund.

For those not keeping score at home, a total of 101 trusts have now reduced or eliminated the distributions they promised investors, according to data assembled by investor advocate and former Scotia Capital research head Diane Urquhart. That's 41 per cent of all publicly traded trusts.

On average, trusts that chopped distributions reduced the cash they hand out by 61 per cent. There are 35 examples of trusts totally suspending their payouts.

To the extent problems at these two trusts could weigh on other companies, it's worth noting that Arctic Glacier's results from selling packaged ice were hurt by rising fuel costs and a falling Canadian dollar - the company has large U.S. operations.

Strongco sells and leases industrial equipment, and sees profits fall on general economic weakness and any downturn in blue collar sectors such as construction and forestry.