Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

9.  Income Taxes

The following table presents the provision for income taxes and the effective income tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011:

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2010			2011			2010			2011
Provision for incomes taxes	$	577		$	515		$	2,537		$	2,204
Effective tax rate	41		%	46		%	42		%	41		%

The effective income tax rate on continuing operations is based upon the estimated income for the year and adjustments, if any, resulting from tax audits or other tax contingencies.

The changes in the effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011 are the result of the relative impact of permanent differences due to changes in estimated pretax annual profits, principally a result of charges that will occur in the fourth quarter related to the redemption of the senior notes.