Table:
| (In thousands) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Balance at beginning of period | $1,868 | $2,366 | $2,226 |
| Increases for tax position related to: |  |  |  |
| Prior years | — | 3 | 465 |
| Current year | 161 | 254 | 285 |
| Decreases for tax positions related to: |  |  |  |
| Prior years | (71) | — | (14) |
| Expiration of applicable statute of limitations | (471) | (755) | (596) |
| Balance at end of period | $1,487 | $1,868 | $2,366 |
Paragraphs:
During 2019, 2018 and 2017, no income tax benefit or expense was recorded for stock options exercised as an adjustment to equity.
The change in the unrecognized income tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is reconciled below:
As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, our total liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $1.5 million, $1.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of which $1.4 million, $1.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively, would reduce our effective tax rate if we were successful in upholding all of the uncertain positions and recognized the amounts recorded. We classify interest and penalties recognized on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the balances of accrued interest and penalties were $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
We do not anticipate a single tax position generating a significant increase or decrease in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of this reporting date. We file income tax returns in the U.S. for federal and various state jurisdictions and several foreign jurisdictions. We are not currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. Generally, we are not subject to changes in income taxes by any taxing jurisdiction for the years prior to 2016.
Question:
What was the change in the balance at the beginning of period between 2018 and 2019?
Answer: $1868-$2366 = -498