Note 3 - Periodic Pension Expense

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Notes to Financial Statements

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE

3

– Periodic Pension Expense:

The following table details the net periodic pension expense under the Company's  plans for the

three

-month periods ended

March 31:

(In thousands)

	2018			2017
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	27		$	16
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		242			241
Expected return on plan assets		(429	)		(304	)
Recognized actuarial loss		283			277
Net periodic pension cost	$	123		$	230

The service cost component is included in selling and administrative expenses and the other components are included in other periodic pension costs in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Effective

June 30, 2013,

the Company

no

longer accrues additional benefits for future service or for future increases in compensation levels for the Company’s primary defined benefit pension plan.

Effective

December 31, 2014,

the Company

no

longer accrues additional benefits for future service for the Company’s hourly defined benefit plan.

There were

$0.1

in contributions made to the Company’s defined benefit plans during the

three

-month period ended

March 31, 2018.

There were

no

contributions made to the Company’s defined benefit plans during the

three

-month period ended

March 31, 2017.