Inventories and natural gas in storage

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Inventories and natural gas in storage [Abstract]

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:



	March 31, 2012		March 31, 2011		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Aggregates held for resale	$	85,958	$	82,086	$	78,518
Asphalt oil	82,949		51,506		32,335
Materials and supplies	68,369		61,788		61,611
Merchandise for resale	28,459		31,830		32,165
Natural gas in storage (current)	15,475		11,953		36,578
Other	32,131		23,533		32,998
Total	$	313,341	$	262,696	$	274,205

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 $50.3 million, $47.2 million, and $50.3 million at March 31, 2012 and 2011, and December 31, 2011, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for inventory. This may include, but is not limited to, the basis of stating inventory, the method of determining inventory cost, the major classes of inventory, and the nature of the cost elements included in inventory. If inventory is stated above cost, accrued net losses on firm purchase commitments for inventory and losses resulting from valuing inventory at the lower-of-cost-or-market may also be included. For LIFO inventory, may disclose the amount and basis for determining the excess of replacement or current cost over stated LIFO value and the effects of a LIFO quantities liquidation that impacts net income.

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