Note 3 - Periodic Pension Expense

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 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 periods presented:

(In thousands)

	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	27		$	17		$	81		$	49
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		242			241			727			724
Expected return on plan assets		(429	)		(305	)		(1,288	)		(914	)
Recognized actuarial loss		284			253			850			800
Settlement loss		-			158			-			435
Net periodic pension cost	$	124		$	364		$	370		$	1,094

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.

The Company

no

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

There were

$0.1

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

three

-month period ended

September 30, 2018.

There were

no

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

three

-month period ended

September 30, 2017.

There were

$0.1

million and

$1.5

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

nine

-month period ended

September 30, 2018

and

2017,

respectively.