Inventories and natural gas in storage

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Inventories and natural gas in storage [Abstract]

Inventories and natural gas in storage

 4. Inventories and natural gas in storage

Inventories, other than natural gas in storage for the Company's regulated operations, were stated at the lower of average cost or market value. Natural gas in storage for the Company's regulated operations is generally carried at average cost, or cost using the last-in, first-out method. The portion of the cost of natural gas in storage expected to be used within one year was included in inventories. Inventories consisted of:

	June 30, 2011		June 30, 2010		December 31, 2010
	(In thousands)
Aggregates held for resale	$	82,936	$	83,535	$	79,894
Materials and supplies		65,363		62,070		57,324
Natural gas in storage (current)		11,993		14,269		34,557
Merchandise for resale		33,435		28,438		30,182
Asphalt oil		55,729		51,956		25,234
Other		27,871		19,895		25,706
Total	$	277,327	$	260,163	$	252,897

The remainder of natural gas in storage, which largely represents the cost of gas required to maintain pressure levels for normal operating purposes, was included in other assets and was $47.2 million, $59.3 million, and $48.0 million at June 30, 2011 and 2010, and December 31, 2010, respectively.