Fair Value

Fair value is the exchange price that would be the amount received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. In arriving at a fair value measurement, we use a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable. The three levels of inputs used to establish fair value are the following:


•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;


•	Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and


•	Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis principally include real estate assets, oil and gas properties, assets held for sale, goodwill and other intangible assets, which are measured for impairment. In first quarter 2014 and 2013, no non-financial assets were remeasured at fair value.

We elected not to use the fair value option for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets, variable debt, accounts payable and other current liabilities. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature or variable interest rates. We determine the fair value of fixed rate financial instruments using quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets.

Information about our fixed rate financial instruments not measured at fair value follows:



	First Quarter-End 2014						Year-End 2013
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Valuation Technique
	(In thousands)
Loan secured by real estate	$	6,172		$	13,810		$	7,610		$	18,025		Level 2
Fixed rate debt	(123,917		)	(113,102		)	(126,640		)	(118,634		)	Level 2