Benefit Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees in the United States and certain international locations. The measurement date used for these plans is September 30.

Net pension cost included the following components for the three and six months ended March 31:



	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
(Millions of dollars)	2019			2018			2019			2018
Service cost	$	33		$	34		$	68		$	64
Interest cost	26			22			54			41
Expected return on plan assets	(45		)	(40		)	(91		)	(72		)
Amortization of prior service credit	(3		)	(3		)	(7		)	(7		)
Amortization of loss	19			19			39			39
Settlements	—			2			—			2
Net pension cost	$	31		$	35		$	63		$	67

The amounts provided above for amortization of prior service credit and amortization of loss represent the reclassifications of prior service credits and net actuarial losses that were recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in prior periods.

As further discussed in Note 2, upon adopting an accounting standard update on October 1, 2018, all components of the Company’s net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs, aside from service cost, are recorded to Other income (expense), net on its consolidated statements of income, for all periods presented.