PENSIONS AND OTHER BENEFIT PLANS

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plans and other benefit plans for the fiscal third quarters and fiscal nine months of 2018 and 2017 include the following components:



	Fiscal Third Quarters Ended									Fiscal Nine Months Ended
	Retirement Plans					Other Benefit Plans				Retirement Plans				Other Benefit Plans
(Dollars in Millions)	September 30, 2018			October 1, 2017		September 30, 2018		October 1, 2017		September 30, 2018		October 1, 2017		September 30, 2018		October 1, 2017
Service cost	$	307		266		67		62		925		772		202		185
Interest cost	247			232		37		40		748		693		112		119
Expected return on plan assets	(550		)	(514	)	(1	)	(2	)	(1,664	)	(1,528	)	(5	)	(5	)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1			1		(7	)	(8	)	2		2		(23	)	(23	)
Recognized actuarial losses	213			154		31		34		641		456		92		103
Curtailments and settlements	—			2		—		—		(2	)	1		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	218		141		127		126		650		396		378		379

As per the adoption of ASU 2017-07, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost was presented in the same line items on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings where other employee compensation costs are reported. All other components of net periodic benefit cost are presented as part of Other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

Company Contributions

For the fiscal nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company contributed $656 million and $28 million to its U.S. and international retirement plans, respectively. The Company plans to continue to fund its U.S. defined benefit plans to comply with the Pension Protection Act of 2006. International plans are funded in accordance with local regulations.