Note 8 - Accrued Retirement Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Notes to Financial Statements

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

8

.    

ACCRUED RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Accrued retirement benefits at

March

31,

2017

and

December

31,

2016

consisted of the following:

	March 31			December 31,
	2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Defined benefit pension plans	$	7,537		$	7,560
Non-qualified retirement plans		1,693			1,674
Total		9,230			9,234
Less current portion		(172	)		(175	)
Non-current portion of accrued retirement benefits	$	9,058		$	9,059

The net periodic benefit costs for pension and postretirement benefits for the

three

months ended

March

31,

2017

and

2016

were as follows:

	Three Months
	Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	557		$	708
Expected return on plan assets		(562	)		(677	)
Amortization of net loss		207			253
Pension and other postretirement expenses	$	202		$	284