Inventories and natural gas in storage

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Inventories, other than natural gas in storage for the Company's regulated operations, are 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 is included in inventories. Inventories consisted of:



	March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014		December 31, 2014
	(In thousands)
Aggregates held for resale	$	112,029	$	104,106	$	108,161
Asphalt oil	89,578		66,292		42,135
Materials and supplies	65,599		68,809		65,683
Merchandise for resale	15,688		22,463		24,420
Natural gas in storage (current)	9,303		6,129		19,302
Other	44,401		33,533		41,110
Total	$	336,598	$	301,332	$	300,811

The remainder of natural gas in storage, which largely represents the cost of gas required to maintain pressure levels for normal operating purposes, is included in other assets and was $49.3 million, $47.4 million and $49.3 million at March 31, 2015 and 2014, and December 31, 2014, 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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