Inventories

Inventories consist of the following (in millions):



	June 30,			December 31,
	2013			2012
Inventories at FIFO, net of reserves	$	411.5		$	456.7
Less: LIFO reserve	(96.9		)	(90.3		)
Total inventories at LIFO, net of reserves	$	314.6		$	366.4

Cost of goods sold reflects the application of the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method of valuing inventories in the U.S. based upon estimated annual producer price indices. Inventories in Canada are valued on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis, as LIFO is not a permitted inventory valuation method in Canada. During periods of rising prices, the LIFO method of costing inventories generally results in higher current costs being charged against income while lower costs are retained in inventories. Conversely, during periods of decreasing prices, the LIFO method of costing inventories generally results in lower current costs being charged against income and higher stated inventories. We recorded LIFO expense of $3.7 million and $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $6.6 million and $7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.