Pension and Retiree Medical Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for pension and retiree medical plans are as follows:



	12 Weeks Ended
	Pension												Retiree Medical
	9/8/2018			9/9/2017			9/8/2018			9/9/2017			9/8/2018			9/9/2017
	U.S.						International
Service cost	$	99		$	93		$	23		$	21		$	7		$	6
Interest cost	111			108			23			21			8			8
Expected return on plan assets	(218		)	(196		)	(50		)	(42		)	(4		)	(5		)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credits)	1			—			—			—			(5		)	(5		)
Amortization of net losses/(gains)	41			29			12			12			(2		)	(3		)
	34			34			8			12			4			1
Settlement loss	7			—			2			2			—			—
Special termination benefits	—			2			—			—			—			—
Total	$	41		$	36		$	10		$	14		$	4		$	1



	36 Weeks Ended
	Pension												Retiree Medical
	9/8/2018			9/9/2017			9/8/2018			9/9/2017			9/8/2018			9/9/2017
	U.S.						International
Service cost	$	298		$	278		$	63		$	58		$	22		$	19
Interest cost	333			324			63			57			24			25
Expected return on plan assets	(653		)	(588		)	(134		)	(112		)	(13		)	(15		)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credits)	2			1			—			—			(14		)	(17		)
Amortization of net losses/(gains)	124			85			31			33			(7		)	(9		)
	104			100			23			36			12			3
Settlement loss	7			—			2			2			—			—
Special termination benefits	3			4			1			—			—			—
Total	$	114		$	104		$	26		$	38		$	12		$	3

We regularly evaluate opportunities to reduce risk and volatility associated with our pension and retiree medical plans. During the first quarter of 2018, we made discretionary contributions of $1.4 billion to the PepsiCo Employees Retirement Plan A (Plan A) in the United States. During the third quarter of 2018, we made discretionary contributions of $37 million to fund U.S. retiree medical plan benefits. We made discretionary contributions to our international pension plans of $17 million and $6 million for the 36 weeks ended September 8, 2018 and September 9, 2017, respectively.