10. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSION PLANS:

Net periodic pension expense reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Interest cost	$	808	$	891	$	2,422	$	2,706
Expected return on plan assets		(1,087)		(1,051)		(3,259)		(3,098)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		259		282		778		861
Net settlement loss		1,004		1,218		1,004		1,218
Total net periodic pension expense	$	984	$	1,340	$	945	$	1,687

As a result of increased lump-sum distributions from the Company’s qualified retirement plan during 2018 and 2017, net settlement losses of $1.0 million and $1.2 million were recognized in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In addition, the increase in lump-sum distributions required the Company to re-measure its liability under its pension plan as of September 30, 2018. As a result of the re-measurement, as well as an increase in the pension plan’s assumed discount rate from 3.3% at December 31, 2017 to 4.0% at September 30, 2018, the Company recorded a $3.4 million decrease in its liability under the pension plan and a corresponding decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2018.

Net postretirement benefit income reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations included the following components for the respective periods (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Interest cost	$	24	$	27	$	72	$	81
Amortization of net actuarial loss		64		61		193		184
Amortization of prior service credit		(329)		(328)		(986)		(985)
Total net postretirement benefit income	$	(241)	$	(240)	$	(721)	$	(720)