DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION EXPENSE

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION EXPENSE

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION EXPENSE

Defined benefit pension expense (income) was as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2016			2015
Interest cost	$	1,402		$	2,080
Expected return on plan assets	(2,736		)	(2,916		)
Amortization:
Prior service cost	4			4
Recognized actuarial loss	832			590
Net periodic expense (income)	$	(498	)	$	(242	)

In 2016, the Company changed the method used to estimate the service and interest components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and other post-retirement benefits from the single weighted-average discount rate to the spot rate method.  There was no impact on the total benefit obligation.