Pension And Postretirement Benefits (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Pension And Postretirement Benefits

Plan Assets And Investment Valuation

In January 2011, we announced a change in our method of recognizing actuarial gains and losses for pension and other postretirement benefits for all benefit plans. Historically, we recognized the actuarial gains and losses as a component of "Stockholder's Equity" on our consolidated balance sheets on an annual basis and amortized them into our operating results over the average future service period of the active employees of these plans, to the extent such gains and losses were outside of a corridor. We have elected to immediately recognize actuarial gains and losses in our operating results, noting that it is generally preferable to accelerate the recognition of deferred gains and losses into income rather than to delay such recognition. Generally, these gains and losses are measured annually as of December 31 and accordingly will be recorded during the fourth quarter.