Note 8 - Accrued Retirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Notes to Financial Statements

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

8 . ACCRUED RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Accrued retirement benefits

at

September 30, 2017

and

December 31, 2016

consisted of the following:

	September 30			December 31,
	2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Defined benefit pension plans	$	7,490		$	7,560
Non-qualified retirement plans		1,654			1,674
Total		9,144			9,234
Less current portion		(164	)		(175	)
Non-current portion of accrued retirement benefits	$	8,980		$	9,059

The net periodic benefit costs for pension

and postretirement benefits for the

three

and

nine

months ended

September 30, 2017

and

2016

were as follows:

	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	560		$	803		$	1,680		$	2,182
Expected return on plan assets		(562	)		(659	)		(1,686	)		(1,977	)
Amortization of net loss		204			253			612			760
Recognized gain due to settlements		-			(654	)		-			(654	)
Pension and other postretirement expenses (income)	$	202		$	(257	)	$	606		$	311
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in comprehensive income:
Net loss	$	204		$	253		$	612		$	760
Recognized actuarial loss due to settlement		-			721			-			721
Total recognized loss in comprehensive income	$	204		$	974		$	612		$	1,481