PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Jul. 29, 2012

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

NOTE J        PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Net periodic benefit cost for pension and other post-retirement benefit plans consists of the following:

	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	July 29, 2012		July 31, 2011		July 29, 2012		July 31, 2011
Service cost	$	5,856	$	6,052	$	17,568	$	18,155
Interest cost	12,284		12,570		36,852		37,711
Expected return on plan assets	(17,128)		(15,747)		(51,383)		(47,242)
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,269)		(152)		(3,809)		(455)
Recognized actuarial loss	5,032		4,159		15,097		12,475
Net periodic cost	$	4,775	$	6,882	$	14,325	$	20,644

	Post-retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	July 29, 2012		July 31, 2011		July 29, 2012		July 31, 2011
Service cost	$	556	$	543	$	1,668	$	1,628
Interest cost	4,437		4,683		13,312		14,049
Amortization of prior service cost	882		1,074		2,678		3,267
Recognized actuarial gain	-		(1)		(2)		(3)
Net periodic cost	$	5,875	$	6,299	$	17,656	$	18,941

During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company made discretionary contributions of $27.3 million to fund its pension plans, compared to discretionary contributions of $23.6 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.