Inventories

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Inventories [Abstract]

Inventories

7.  INVENTORIES

The components of inventories are as follows:

30 September	2011			2010
Inventories at FIFO cost
Finished goods		$489.1			$405.3
Work in process		29.9			29.3
Raw materials, supplies and other		258.2			208.2
		777.2			642.8
Less: Excess of FIFO cost over LIFO cost		(95.8	)		(71.2	)
		$681.4			$571.6

Inventories valued using the LIFO method comprised 42.3% and 40.5% of consolidated inventories before LIFO adjustment at 30 September 2011 and 2010, respectively. Liquidation of LIFO inventory layers in 2011 and 2010 did not materially affect the results of operations. During 2009, there was no liquidation of prior years' LIFO inventory layers.

FIFO cost approximates replacement cost. Our inventory has a high turnover, and as a result, there is little difference between the original cost of an item and its current replacement cost.