6.	INVENTORIES

The composition of inventories at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, was as follows:

(In thousands)	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Finished goods	$	136,717	$	117,529
Raw materials		58,452		55,219
Total inventories	$	195,169	$	172,748

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, inventory balances would have been approximately $35,298,000 and $33,518,000 higher than reported at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively.