Note 5. Inventories

Our available-for-sale inventory amounts by product type were as follows at the dates indicated:

	September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
NGLs	$	1,085.8	$	594.3
Petrochemicals and refined products		448.2		304.5
Crude oil		254.8		119.4
Natural gas		73.6		70.2
Total	$	1,862.4	$	1,088.4

In those instances where we take ownership of inventory volumes through percent-of-liquids contracts and similar arrangements (as opposed to outright purchases from third parties for cash), these volumes are valued at market-based prices during the month in which they are acquired.

Due to fluctuating commodity prices, we recognize lower of cost or market adjustments when the carrying value of our available-for-sale inventories exceeds their net realizable value. These non-cash charges are a component of cost of sales in the period they are recognized. To the extent our commodity hedging strategies address inventory-related price risks and are successful, these inventory valuation adjustments are mitigated or offset. See Note 4 for a description of our commodity hedging activities.

The following table presents our total cost of sales amounts and lower of cost or market adjustments for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Cost of sales (1)	$	10,371.3	$	8,794.0	$	29,522.1	$	26,655.0
Lower of cost or market adjustments		4.5		2.2		14.9		16.1
(1) Cost of sales is a component of "Operating costs and expenses," as presented on our Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Operations. Period-to-period fluctuations in these amounts are primarily due to changes in energy commodity prices and sales volumes associated with our marketing activities.