Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Pension and other postretirement benefits expenses consisted of the following:



	Three months ended March 31,
Pensions	2018			2017
Service cost	$	1,590		$	1,643
Interest cost	4,309			4,621
Expected return on plan assets	(7,394		)	(6,860		)
Amortization of prior service cost	141			109
Amortization of actuarial losses	2,811			2,480
Settlement gain	—			(261		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,457		$	1,732



	Three months ended March 31,
Other Postretirement Benefits	2018		2017
Service cost	$	24	$	22
Interest cost	344		389
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	5		(17		)
Amortization of actuarial losses	160		69
Net periodic benefit cost	$	533	$	463

The components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component are included in Other Income (Expense) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The amended guidance related to the presentation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit cost (See Note 2) provides for a practical expedient that allows use of amounts disclosed in prior year filings for the prior year comparable periods as an estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The Company has elected to use this practical expedient.

The Company currently expects to contribute approximately $4,600 to certain of its defined benefit pension plans in 2018. No contributions to the U.S. Qualified pension plans, specifically, are required, and the Company does not currently plan to make any discretionary contributions to such plans in 2018.