6.	INVENTORIES

The composition of inventories at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, was as follows:

(In thousands)	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
Finished goods	$	106,881	$	127,597
Raw materials		56,835		46,066
Total inventories	$	163,716	$	173,663

Inventories are priced primarily using the last-in, first-out inventory valuation method. If the first-in, first-out inventory valuation method had been used for all inventories, total inventory balances would have been approximately $33,606,000 and $25,872,000 higher than reported at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively.