PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

9 Months Ended

Jul. 26, 2015

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS

NOTE KPENSION 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 26, 2015		July 27, 2014		July 26, 2015		July 27, 2014
Service cost	$	7,198	$	6,477	$	21,596	$	19,457
Interest cost	13,131		13,219		39,392		39,812
Expected return on plan assets	(22,198)		(20,863)		(66,594)		(62,840)
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,220)		(1,242)		(3,659)		(3,728)
Recognized actuarial loss	4,625		3,172		13,851		9,525
Net periodic cost	$	1,536	$	763	$	4,586	$	2,226

	Post-retirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	July 26, 2015		July 27, 2014		July 26, 2015		July 27, 2014
Service cost	$	442	$	484	$	1,327	$	1,450
Interest cost	3,337		3,785		10,009		11,356
Amortization of prior service cost	(335)		(334)		(1,003)		(1,002)
Recognized actuarial gain	-		(1)		(1)		(2)
Net periodic cost	$	3,444	$	3,934	$	10,332	$	11,802

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company made discretionary contributions of $22.7 million to fund its pension plans, compared to discretionary contributions of $25.6 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014.