Please answer the given financial question based on the context.
Context: item 4 . mine safety disclosures not applicable part ii item 5 . market for registrant 2019s common equity , related stockholder matters , and issuer purchases of equity securities our common stock ( ticker symbol apd ) is listed on the new york stock exchange . our transfer agent and registrar is broadridge corporate issuer solutions , inc. , p.o . box 1342 , brentwood , new york 11717 , telephone ( 844 ) 318-0129 ( u.s. ) or ( 720 ) 358-3595 ( all other locations ) ; website , http://shareholder.broadridge.com/ airproducts ; and e-mail address , shareholder@broadridge.com . as of 31 october 2018 , there were 5391 record holders of our common stock . cash dividends on the company 2019s common stock are paid quarterly . it is our expectation that we will continue to pay cash dividends in the future at comparable or increased levels . the board of directors determines whether to declare dividends and the timing and amount based on financial condition and other factors it deems relevant . dividend information for each quarter of fiscal years 2018 and 2017 is summarized below: .
||2018|2017|
|first quarter|$ .95|$ .86|
|second quarter|1.10|.95|
|third quarter|1.10|.95|
|fourth quarter|1.10|.95|
|total|$ 4.25|$ 3.71|
purchases of equity securities by the issuer on 15 september 2011 , the board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $ 1.0 billion of our outstanding common stock . this program does not have a stated expiration date . we repurchase shares pursuant to rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18 under the securities exchange act of 1934 , as amended , through repurchase agreements established with one or more brokers . there were no purchases of stock during fiscal year 2018 . at 30 september 2018 , $ 485.3 million in share repurchase authorization remained . additional purchases will be completed at the company 2019s discretion while maintaining sufficient funds for investing in its businesses and growth opportunities. .
Question: what is the increase observed in the payment of dividends during 2017 and 2018?


Answer: The answer is:0.14555