Table:
|  |  | Years Ended December 31, |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Service cost | $405 | $448 | $443 |
| Interest cost | 254 | 196 | 194 |
| Recognized actuarial (gains) | (86) | (58) | (43) |
| Net periodic benefit cost | 573 | 586 | 594 |
| Unrealized net actuarial (gains), net of tax | (2,324) | (2,256) | (1,574) |
| Total amount recognized in net periodic benefit cost and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | $(1,751) | $(1,670) | $(980) |
Paragraphs:
The Company evaluates these assumptions on a periodic basis taking into consideration current market conditions and historical market data. The discount rate is used to calculate expected future cash flows at a present value on the measurement date, which is December 31. This rate represents the market rate for high-quality fixed income investments. A lower discount rate would increase the present value of benefit obligations. Other assumptions include demographic factors such as retirement, mortality and turnover.
The following table provides information about the net periodic benefit cost and other accumulated comprehensive income for the Pension Plans (in thousands):
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) – Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU 2017-07”). These amendments require that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component outside of a subtotal of income from operations. If a separate line item is not used, the line items used in the income statement to present other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. These amendments were applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement and prospectively, on and after the effective date, for the capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit in assets. The amendments allow a practical expedient that permits an employer to use the amounts disclosed in its pension and other postretirement benefit plan note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements.
Question:
In which year was Net periodic benefit cost the largest?
Answer: Because 594>586>573, the answer is: 2017.