Postretirement Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Postretirement Plans

Postretirement Plans

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

	Nine months ended September 30						Three months ended September 30
Pension Plans	2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost		$1,233			$1,053			$411			$351
Interest cost	2,253			2,339			751			780
Expected return on plan assets	(2,874		)	(2,805		)	(958		)	(935		)
Amortization of prior service costs	168			182			56			61
Recognized net actuarial loss	1,452			942			484			314
Settlement and curtailment loss/(gain)	10			64						9
Net periodic benefit cost		$2,242			$1,775			$744			$580
Net periodic benefit cost included in Earnings from operations		$1,831			$1,304			$583			$389

	Nine months ended September 30						Three months ended September 30
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost		$108			$182			$36			$110
Interest cost	237			377			79			171
Expected return on plan assets	(6		)	(4		)	(2		)	(2		)
Amortization of prior service costs	(147		)	(72		)	(49		)	(24		)
Recognized net actuarial loss	90			142			30			76
Settlement and curtailment loss/(gain)	(2		)
Net periodic benefit cost		$280			$625			$94			$331
Net periodic benefit cost included in Earnings from operations		$414			$561			$132			$281

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we determined the accumulated benefit obligation for certain other postretirement benefit plans was understated. As a result, we recognized an additional $294 of postretirement benefit obligations at September 30, 2011. This increased net periodic benefit cost during the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011 by $184, which includes service cost of $73, interest cost of $68 and recognized net actuarial loss of $43.

Under our accounting policy, a portion of net periodic benefit cost is allocated to production as inventoried costs. Of the $184 increase in net periodic benefit cost described above, the associated cost included in Earnings from operations was $161 for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2011, with the remaining cost of $23 classified as inventory.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we made discretionary pension contributions of $1,513 and $500. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we made contributions to our other postretirement benefit plans of $11 and $12.